Bill Text: NH HB1418 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Authorizing funds of the department of agriculture to be used for increasing farm energy efficiency.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-09-16 - Executive Session: 09/23/2020 02:00 pm Members of the public may attend using this link: : https://www.zoom.us/j/98901909120 [HB1418 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2020-HB1418-Introduced.html

HB 1418 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2020 SESSION

20-2256

08/05

 

HOUSE BILL 1418

 

AN ACT authorizing funds of the department of agriculture to be used for increasing farm energy efficiency.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Thompson, Ches. 14; Rep. French, Graf. 14; Rep. W. Thomas, Hills. 21; Rep. Pearl, Merr. 26; Rep. McWilliams, Merr. 27; Rep. Oxenham, Sull. 1

 

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill authorizes funds from the department of agriculture, markets, and food agricultural nutrient management program to be used for increasing farm energy efficiency.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

20-2256

08/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty

 

AN ACT authorizing funds of the department of agriculture to be used for increasing farm energy efficiency.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Agricultural Nutrient Management Program.  Amend the subdivision heading before RSA 431:36 to read as follows:

Agricultural Nutrient Management

and Increasing Farm Energy Efficiency Program

2  Agricultural Nutrient Management Program; Energy Efficiency Included.  Amend RSA 431:36 to read as follows:

431:36  Program Established.

I.  The commissioner of the department of agriculture, markets, and food shall establish an agricultural nutrient management and increasing farm energy efficiency program.  The program shall assist agricultural land and livestock owners with efforts to minimize potential adverse effects on waters of the state resulting from agricultural nutrients including fertilizers, animal manures, and agricultural compost, as well as increasing farm energy efficiency.  Practices to increase farm energy efficiency shall include but not be limited to sugar house upgrades and sugar house equipment upgrades; insulation; heating, cooling, and refrigeration equipment; and on-farm electrical generation and storage.  The purpose of the program shall be to provide educational, technical, and financial assistance to agricultural land owners with implementing best management practices as provided in RSA 431:34-35, and such other practices deemed necessary to mitigate water pollution and increase farm energy efficiency.  The goal of the program is to assist and enable the continued viability of farming in New Hampshire and the preservation of open space in a manner that is compatible with the state's public health and environmental objectives.  The commissioner shall be authorized to accept grants, gifts, and donations from any public or private sources for the purposes stated in this paragraph.

II.  The commissioner shall, within the biennial report pursuant to RSA 20:7, report to the house environment and agriculture committee, the senate environment committee, the house finance committee, and the senate finance committee.  The report shall include:

(a)  The use and current status of the fund;

(b)  The work accomplished;

(c)  The number of grantees and the amount of the grant received by each; and

(d)  The effectiveness of the implementation of agricultural best management practices needed to more fully protect water quality and increase farm energy efficiency.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

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