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News
HB 1594 ACTION ALERT
UPDATE: 04/21/08
Earlier today (04/21/08) the NH Senate Energy, Environment and Economic Development Committee took additional testimony on a bill proposing to add a fee for the storage of hazardous materials (includes petroleum products) to fund regional hazardous materials response teams (House Bill 1594).
HB 1594 Proposal - Click here for Bill Text -
Establishes a statewide reporting requirement applicable to;
- Facilities storing over 10,000 pounds of petroleum product
- Facilities storing over 500 pounds of Tier II chemicals
All companies or individuals reporting must pay an annual fee of $50 fee and an additional annual fee based on the volume of material stored
- 500-999 pounds of stored material = $25
- 1,000 – 9,999 pounds of stored material = $50
- 10,000 – 99,999 pounds of stored material = $100
Fees go to a fund within the Department of Safety to fund,
- Reporting program (administration)
- Tier II program manager (state personnel)
- Regional hazardous materials response teams (training and equipment). These teams have been around for over 10 years and after the 9/11 attacks the state started receiving funding from Federal Homeland Security grant dollars.
Bill also establishes a study commission to
- Identify funding sources
- Ways to improve the program
HB1594 Talking Points
Now is not the time to place any additional financial burdens on NH’s small businesses.
We are also concerned how these fees and reporting requirements could impact the price of diesel fuel and gasoline assuming a portion of them would be passed through to the customer.
Most small and large businesses already have insurance to cove the costs for spill cleanup. Why does the state need to raise more money from these companies through a hazardous materials fee/tax?
In addition to the funding burden this bill also adds a reporting burden to companies storing petroleum (NHDES already maintains a database of above and below ground petroleum storage tanks).
NH already has 25 private companies equipped, trained and approved to perform spill cleanup. Why can’t the state use these companies to fill the requirements of HB 1594 and have the companies responsible for the spill pay for their services?
Currently it appears there is money to cover the funding of hazardous materials first response teams already exists in the Department of Safety’s fire training and standards fund for the short-term?
At a minimum additional study is needed (Study the issues and identify where the money should come from and how it should be spent before collecting the fees);
- It is unclear the threat of hazardous materials spills merits a statewide fee and reporting program.
- How many spills did the state’s hazardous materials teams respond to since the federal grants started?
- Is there a more efficient way to integrate first responders with NH’s existing network of local safety departments?
- How were the hazardous materials response teams funded prior to the Federal grants?
- The fiscal note on HB 1594 does not adequately capture all affected parties and revenue sources.
- It is still unclear exactly how the funds raised by HB 1594 will be used.
- What training and educational resources does the Department of Safety have for helping NH’s small business owners deal with the new reporting requirements?
HB 1594 Action
Call or email your Senator and the Governor’s office urging them to KILL HB 1594 or commit it to study.
Office of the Governor
State House
25 Capitol Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603)271-2121
(603)271-7680 (fax)
http://www4.egov.nh.gov/governor/goveforms/comments.asp
Contact your NH Senators
1594 Petition Please print and sign
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HB 1442 ACTION ALERT
On Friday (04/18/08) the NH Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee took additional testimony on House Bill 1442. HB 1442 will provide Towns and owners of agricultural structures a mechanism for tax relief. HB 1442 came about after a number of citizens were shocked to learn their agricultural buildings were being assessed higher because the building had a view or water-front access.
HB 1442 View Assessment on Farm and Forest Buildings - Click here for Bill Text
This bill grants municipalities the option to allow:
- The land under farm structures to be taxed at 10% of full value.
- Farm buildings used exclusively for farm purposes to be assessed for no more than their replacement costs less depreciation.
NHTOA SUPPORTS HB 1442 and its effort to provide reasonable taxation on the farm and forestry buildings supporting NH’s working lands.
In a time of increasing land management costs and development pressure on NH’s working farms and forests it is essential the General Court and Governor provide a reasonable tax structure for the buildings and structures supporting NH’s greatest asset – open space. NH’s working farms and forests generate BILLIONS of dollars in economic activity for NH’s citizens through the timber, crops and livestock it grows and this asset also supports the state’s largest industry - Tourism
http://www4.egov.nh.gov/governor/goveforms/comments.asp
Contact your NH Senators
1442 Petition Please print and sign
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Farmers Reduce Energy Costs with USDA Rural Development Grant and Loan Guarantee Funds
By Lyn Millhiser, USDA RD Rural Energy Coordinator
Farm energy costs run high, and USDA Rural Development can help reduce energy costs and consumption through its Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency funding program. Not only is energy conservation and renewable energy production good for the environment, it saves farmers money. If you own a farm business and would like to reduce your energy costs, call USDA Rural Development today. In Fiscal year 2007, 345 energy projects in 37 states across the USA were selected to receive a total of $18.2 million from this program. Projects funded to date include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and efficiency.
Thirty Vermont and New Hampshire agricultural producers and rural small businesses received nearly $4.2 million in grant and guaranteed loan funds from the energy program in the last two years. Many of these energy projects will repay the capital investment through energy cost savings in just a few years.
Numerous Vermont and New Hampshire farmers have received grant and loan guarantee funding from the Renewable Energy program to construct and install wood biomass systems, solar PV systems, and manure-to-methane anaerobic digester systems that produce heat and/or electricity on the farm; and many maple sugar makers have received grant and loan guarantee funding from the Energy Efficiency program to purchase and install reverse osmosis or steam away equipment at their maple sugar making operations to reduce their annual fuel use by up to 75%.
Middleton Building Supply in Middleton, New Hampshire received a $460,943 renewable energy grant to construct and install a 600hp wood boiler system with 600kW steam turbines to co-generate heat and electricity for a sawmill/lumber operation, utilizing 45 tons of waste wood fiber from the sawmill operation to replace 441,000 gallons of #2 fuel oil. 3,405,676 kWh electricity will be generated annually for use in the sawmill operations, with a total generation capacity of 5.1 million kWh annually. Total project costs of $1,843,773 with net annual energy displacement savings of $958,956 equate to a less than 2 year simple payback.
In nearby Vermont, Branon’s West View Maples operation in Fairfield, received an $18,325 grant and an $18,325 loan guarantee to purchase and install a Springtech Elite 4000 gph reverse osmosis machine with 8 membranes. Total project costs of $73,300 with annual energy savings of 6,731 gallons oil saved or 61% over current use, equal savings of $15,756 annually and equate to a less than 5 year simple payback.
Scott Farm, Inc. in Dummerston, Vermont received a $15,056 renewable energy grant and a $15,057 loan guarantee to install a Garn WHS2000 wood boiler and a 3.6kW solar PV system to energize an historic apple packing facility. The systems will provide 100% of the thermal and electricity needed for the apple packing facility, previously without energy, and will generate a total 701.9 million BTUs annually. Total project costs of $60,226 with $6,130 energy savings if buying electricity and oil instead, equate to a 10 year simple payback.
Neighborhood Energy, LLC and also known as the Maxwell Farm in Newport, Vermont, received a $357,988 grant and a $326,767 loan guarantee to construct a 225kW manure-to-methane anaerobic digester system that will produce 1,712,580 kWh of electricity annually to be sold to the local electric utility. Total project costs of $1,431,950 with net income estimated to be $224,867 from electricity production and sales, bedding offset, sale of excess solids, and tax credits equate to a 6.4 year simple payback.
“USDA Rural Development’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency program is a valuable tool in helping farm businesses reduce energy costs and increase their economic viability,” said Jolinda LaClair, State Director.
Grant and Loan Guarantee funds are available to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption by subsidizing energy efficiency improvements, as well as renewable energy production from wind, solar, biomass, or geothermal sources. Grant funds up to 25% of project costs are available, capped at $500,000 for renewable energy projects and $250,000 for energy efficiency projects. Guaranteed loans and combination funding packages are also available. In addition to Federal funding, several local and state programs offer additional complementary funding for energy projects.
Call now! New Hampshire farm businesses interested in learning more about the opportunity to reduce energy consumption, cut costs, and/or produce renewable energy should contact USDA Rural Development in Concord, NH at 603-223-6045, or visit the website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/vt.
NH Farmers Article in PDF. |
