Environment

HB 1607 prohibits storing road salt and de-icing chemicals (like sodium chloride) in ways that risk contaminating groundwater or surface water. It requires the Department of Environmental Services to create storage regulations, with stricter rules for areas already affected by chemical contamination. This directly affects local public works departments that store these chemicals for winter road maintenance. The bill establishes a regulatory framework but does not specify exact storage methods, leaving implementation to the department's future rules.

HB 219 phases out New Hampshire's minimum requirement for electricity providers to source a certain percentage of power from renewable sources. It mandates a 20% annual reduction in these renewable energy targets starting in 2026, fully eliminating the minimum standard by 2030. This directly affects electricity providers (including distribution companies, competitive suppliers, and community aggregators) who must meet these renewable sourcing requirements. The bill replaces the current standard with a structured 5-year phase-out, allowing utilities to offer 100% renewable power options to default service customers starting in 2026.