NH Congressional Delegation Wants a Rush on Energy Assistance

The New Hampshire congressional delegation has a message for the federal Department of Energy: hurry up with the federal help to keep the heat on this winter.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster signed a letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to put a rush on distributing federal funds and programs under the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act that can help residents cut energy bills and reduce demand for fossil fuels.

“As we enter into the winter months, we write to highlight specific challenges New Hampshire faces as global events continue to stoke volatility in oil and natural gas markets that in turn, impact home heating costs and electricity prices for our constituents,” the delegation wrote. “We appreciate your ongoing attention to these concerns and encourage the Administration to speed up deployment of resources Congress has provided through the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act that can help lower energy costs.”

The cost of electricity and home heating oil are at unprecedented levels as the weather turns colder.

The delegation also wants Granholm to make sure the infrastructure can handle any extended periods of severe cold that could cause disruptions to supply. They asked specifically for a release from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve if conditions warrant.

“We also urge you to convene stakeholders in our region to plan for potential supply shortages or risks to grid reliability in the event of severe storms or prolonged cold snaps this winter,” the delegation wrote.

Shaheen has already secured $33.9 million in funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP).

The letter is similar to one sent by Eversource President & CEO Joseph Nolan to President Biden in October, expressing his concerns about power issues.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH