NH State Climate Change Action Plan …

                            NH State Climate Change Action Plan
                                    Process Description
                                      January 18, 2008
Background
Purpose and Charge
Governor John Lynch created the NH Climate Change Policy Task Force on December 6, 2007
by signing Executive Order 2007-3. The Governor's Task Force will work in conjunction with
the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to produce a Climate Change Action Plan that
establishes climate change goals and recommends meaningful steps to meet those goals.
The Task Force, after giving due consideration to analysis and reporting by DES on the state of
climate change science, stakeholder input and the need and urgency for state policy actions given
the science shall:
   1. Based upon international and regional goals of a 75-85 percent reduction by 2050 in
      greenhouse gas emissions, recommend goals for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions
      given the current emissions and future projections.
   2. Recommend a comprehensive set of specific regulatory, voluntary and policy actions that
      the state should adopt to achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals. Prescribed actions
      will occur in the following sectors:
          a. Electric Generation;
          b. Transportation and Land Use;
          c. Residential, Commercial, Industrial;
          d. Agriculture, Forestry and Waste;
          e. Government Action and Leadership; and
          f. Adapting to Climate Change.
DES will use these goals and recommendations to draft the Action Plan, which, following input
from the public and review by the Task Force, will be submitted by September 1, 2008 to the
Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
the Senate Clerk, the House Clerk, and the State Library.




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Task Force
Membership
1. Membership to the Task Force has been determined by the Governor's Executive Order and
   shall include:
           Thomas Burack, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Services
           Clifton Below, Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission
           Meredith Hatfield, Consumer Advocate, Office of the Consumer Advocate
           Amy Ignatius, Director, Office of Energy and Planning
           Philip Bryce, Director of Forests and Lands,    Department of Resources and
           Economic Development
           William Cass, Director of Project Development, Department of Transportation
           Mary Ann Cooney, Director of Public Health, Department of Health and Human
           Services
           Roger Sevigny, Commissioner, Department of Insurance
           Sheila Roberge, Senate Republican, NH Senate
           Martha Fuller Clark, Senate Democrat, NH Senate
           Richard Barry, House Republican, NH House of Representatives
           Suzanne Harvey, House Democrat, NH House of Representatives
           Patricia Carrier, Facilities and Environmental Manager, New Hampshire Ball
           Bearings, Inc.
           Al Lelis, Division Manger for Safety and Environment, Osram Sylvania
           Roland Aube, MRO Buyer, Isaacson Steel
           Gary Long, President, Public Service of New Hampshire
           George Gantz, Senior Vice President, Unitil Corporation
           William Sherry, Executive Vice President, National Grid
           William Cahill, Jr., Vice President and Group Counsel, The Hanover Insurance
           Group
           Daryl Burnett, State Director, Nature Conservancy
           Jim O'Brien, Executive Director, Granite State Conservation Voters
           Will Abbott, Vice President, Policy and Land Management, Society for the Protection
           of New Hampshire Forests
           Joe Norton, Executive Director, NH Wildlife Federation
           Cameron Wake, Research Associate Professor, University of New Hampshire
           Alice Chamberlin, Former Policy Assistant to the Governor John Lynch
           Charles F. Bass, Former US Congressman
           Jameson French, President and CEO, Northland Forest Products
           Rhett Lamb, Planning Director, City Of Keene
2. The Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services will be the Chairperson, as
   appointed by the Governor.


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3. Only the lead representative, or the alternate in the case of the representative's absence, will
   participate in formal decision-making.


Roles and Responsibilities
1. Task Force members are requested to make every attempt to attend all Task Force meetings,
   and to review all documents disseminated prior to each meeting. Members who can not
   make a meeting should let the Chairperson and Task Force coordinator, who shall be
   designated by DES, know prior to the meeting (by voice or e-mail). In the event that Task
   Force members are not able to attend, members are asked to review notes and provide
   comments, including assent or dissent, as soon as possible.
2. Task Force members are requested to keep their organizations and constituencies fully
   informed of the developments of the Task Force progress.
3. Task Force members are asked to speak about Task Force deliberations and issues only on
   behalf of their organization or agencies (e.g., to the press). DES will be the point of contact
   for public inquiries about the process and status of the Task Force.
4. Task Force members are encouraged to confer with each other, DES and the Technical
   Consultants, UNH-based Carbon Solutions New England (CSNE), in and between meetings.
5. Task Force members are requested to consider the full range of interests in the sectors that
   they represent throughout the process.


Decision-making
1. The primary role of the Task Force will be to prepare recommendations consistent with the
   Purpose of and Charge to the process.
2. The goal of the process will be to make major substantive recommendations including a set
   of individual GHG policy actions by consensus of the Task Force, where consensus shall
   mean that everyone is at least willing to accept a decision and not to dissent.
3. The Task Force's final recommendations at the end of the process will include all areas of
   consensus, and descriptions of the alternative policy designs and implementation approaches
   preferred by Task Force members in areas where consensus was not reached, if any. For
   non-consensus issues, the Task Force members supporting each alternative approach will be
   listed under each alternative.
4. Task Force members are encouraged to obtain substantive comments from their respective
   organizations.
5. Task Force members will be listed in the Action Plan along with their organizational
   affiliations.




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Working Groups:
Membership
1. Task Force members, who have an interest and an expertise, may elect to serve as Working
   Group members for specific sectors and may serve as a liaison between each Working Group
   and the Task Force.
2. In the event that any Working Group is undersubscribed, additional Working Group
   representatives from stakeholder organizations or other individuals with relevant interest and
   expertise may also be added as suggested by the Governor, Task Force and Working Group
   members, and DES. Other individuals interested in becoming Working Group members will
   also be considered upon request.
3. Working Group discussions shall be open to the Working Group members only. Time will be
   provided for comments from public attendees.


Roles and Responsibilities
1.   Working group members are requested to make every attempt to attend all Working Group meetings, and to
     review all documents disseminated prior to each meeting. Members who can not make a meeting should let the
     Working Group coordinator, who will be designated by DES, know prior to the meeting (by voice or e-mail). In
     the event that Working Group members are not able to attend, members are asked to review meeting notes and
     provide comments, including assent or dissent, as soon as possible.
2.   It is the responsibility of the Working Group members to keep their organizations and constituencies fully
     informed of the developments in the Working Group process.
3.   Working Group members are encouraged to confer with each other, DES, and the Technical Consultants, in and
     between meetings


Decision-making
1. The primary task of each Working Group is to identify and analyze GHG mitigation options
   and alternative policy designs within the scope of that Working Group, to assist the
   Technical Consultants and DES in a collaborative fashion, and prepare recommendations for
   the Task Force consistent with the Purpose and Charge of the process.
2. The Working Groups will be tasked with providing recommendations to Task Force
   members on priorities for analysis, technical analysis and design of options, alternative
   approaches, and final recommendations.
3. Working Groups will be divided into emission source sectors: (1) Electric Generation
   (including demand side efficiency and conservation), (2) Transportation and Land Use, (3)
   Residential, Commercial, and Industrial, and (4) Agriculture, Forestry and Waste.
4. Two Working Groups will also be charged with identifying policy recommendations
   regarding Adapting to Climate Change and Government Leadership and Action.
5. Each Working Group's recommendations to the Task Force will include all areas of
   consensus, and a description of the alternative options or approaches preferred by Group
   members in areas where consensus was not reached, if any. Consensus shall mean that
   everyone is at least willing to accept a decision and not to dissent. Members are responsible
   for voicing their objections and concerns, and silence or absence will be considered consent.


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   For non-consensus issues, the Working Group members supporting each alternative approach
   will be listed under each alternative.


Department of Environmental Services (DES):
The Department of Environmental Services shall serve as the lead agency in guiding and
assisting the Task Force and Working Groups in fulfilling their basic duties by providing staff
assistance, background research and assistance in drafting reports. DES will coordinate the
Action Plan development process and will submit the Climate Change Action Plan to the
Governor's Office and State Legislature on behalf of the Task Force. The Plan will be based on
the recommendations from the Task Force, including all supporting analysis and documentation.


Roles and Responsibilities
   1. DES will serve as consultants to the Task Force, with assistance from the Carbon
      Solutions New England (CSNE) Technical Consultant team. Other state agencies may
      participate as advisors to the process at the discretion of DES.
   2. DES will provide the resources and staff necessary to design and manage a productive
      process including:
           a. Overall coordination of the Task Force process and deliverables;
           b. Designating staff and external personnel to serve as the Task Force and Working
              Group coordinators in order to facilitate the process, provide support and
              coordinate with the DES.
           c. Working with the Task Force and Working Group coordinators to draft schedules,
              agendas, documents, presentations, meeting summaries and reports and distribute
              to Task Force and Working Group members in a timely fashion (typically, 1 week
              in advance, and 1 week after meetings respectively);
           d. Coordination of all meetings of the Task Force and the Working Groups to
              provide a constructive forum in which diverse points of view are voiced and
              examined in a professional and balanced way;
           e. Directing and coordinating the work of the Technical Consultants, other state
              agency technical and support staff as needed, and Working Group leaders;
           f. Liaison with technical experts outside the process, as necessary;
           g. Posting all meeting summaries, notes, presentations and handouts linked to other
              organizations and agencies as appropriate; and
           h. Conducting public meetings as needed.
   3. DES will serve as consultants to the Task Force, with assistance from the Carbon
      Solutions New England (CSNE) technical consultant team. Other state agencies may
      participate as advisors to the process at the discretion of DES.
   4. DES will engage in preliminary fact finding prior to the first Task Force meeting and will
      provide to the Task Force:


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           a. A draft N.H. GHG Inventory and Business-As-Usual (BAU) Emissions Forecast;
           b. A summary of climate change goals, policies, and programs occurring in the NE
              region and states; and
           c. A list of potential Action Plan program and policy options broken down by sector
              of origin, based on actions considered or undertaken in New Hampshire and/or
              other states.
Technical Consultants:
The CSNE technical consultant team will serve as a neutral and expert group to inform and
support the development of technical and policy consensus. Technical staff will perform analyses
and provide support based on Task Force and Working Group decisions. State agency staff and
Working Group members will be asked to assist in the formulation and analysis of options.
Roles and Responsibilities:
1. The Technical Consultants' primary function is to provide technical support to the Task
   Force and Working Groups, including quantitative analysis of options and alternative policy
   designs.
2. Presentations to the Task Force and Working Group members.
3. Development of final Action Plan language, tables, and graphs.
4. Confidential information discussed with the Technical Consultants must be so indicated by
   the party providing the information.
Public Involvement:
   1. All meetings will be open to the public.
   2. Members of the public will be given a chance to express their opinions and provide input
      at appropriate junctures and as time allows.
   3. Prior to the completion of the Action Plan, there will be at least one public hearing on the
      draft Action Plan and the final recommendations will appropriately consider all
      stakeholder comments. This hearing will follow the rules and regulations provided in
      Env-C 200.
   4. Meeting notes and materials will also be available on the DES website, linked to other
      organizations and agencies as appropriate.


Process Design:
The Task Force process will:
       Be informed by preliminary and ongoing fact-finding. The Task Force and Working
       Group members will be assisted in this task by DES and the CSNE team.
       Seek consensus. Final recommendations by the Working Groups to the Task Force and to
       DES will be selected by procedures that allow the full expression of viewpoints;




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           o Preliminary votes will be taken informally to assess the level of consensus and
             identify barriers to consensus in order to generate alternative policy designs as
             possible.
           o A method that may be used early on for assessing the level of support and
             likelihood of achieving consensus includes, but is not limited to:
                     Unanimous consent (all agree)
                     Super majority (e.g., 75 percent agree);
                     Majority (51 percent agree): and
                     Minority view (less than 50 percent agree).
       Begin without any pre-commitments to a particular course of action. DES will provide
       Task Force and Working Group members with an extensive list of potential actions to
       assist in the identification of potential priority options for evaluation.
       Be recommended to and non-binding upon the Governor, the Task Force, the Working
       Groups or DES in order to provide public input for potential future policy decisions. It
       will be structured as an informal consensus-building effort to provide a full opportunity
       for Task Force members to make voluntary decisions regarding policy recommendations.
       Be transparent in terms of product and process. The Working Group and Task Force's
       straw proposal design parameters will include targets, timing, coverage, and
       implementation mechanisms. Technical analyses will include clear disclosure of data,
       methods, sources, and key assumptions and uncertainties.
       Include a diverse group of Task Force and Working Group members and provide regular
       opportunities for public input.
       Be flexible throughout the process. The DES team will check with the Task Force,
       Working Groups, and other participants regarding progress and any needs for revision.
       DES will share proposed changes openly with participants.


Key steps and parameters of the process include the following:
       Historical GHG emission and carbon storage inventories and "Business-As-Usual"
       (BAU) case projections will be developed for years 1990-2020.
       The Task Force will consider the current commitments of the state as well as the goals of
       New England states to develop a set of New Hampshire climate change goals, based upon
       overall goals established by the Governors. These goals will help to guide the final
       selection of climate change strategies.
       The process will start with examination of a list of potential actions and modify, add or
       remove options as needed to cover all potential options of interest to the Task Force. The
       Working Groups will identify initial draft priority options for analysis, and then develop
       straw policy designs for each proposal with assistance from DES and CSNE.
       The Task Force and Working Groups will explore solutions:
           o In all sectors and across all potential implementation methods;
           o At the state level and multi-state actions (regional and national);



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   o That use voluntary as well as regulatory approaches;
   o That target GHG emission reductions from the present to year 2020 while
     positioning the State for greater reductions over the longer term;
   o That target carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and
     synthetic gases (HFC, PFC, & SF6); and
   o To maximize reductions and achieve the NH climate change goals.
Working Groups will develop "straw" proposal designs for options that consider the
scope, focus, timing and implementation strategy.
Following the development of straw policy designs, CSNE will quantify the benefits and
costs.
For each draft potential policy option identified by the Task Force, CSNE will project the
impact of the policies under the specified parameters and prepare a policy option
template (Attachment 2), for Working Group and Task Force review and approval, that:
   o Reports the impact of climate change policies and program in normalized units to
     be expressed as metric tons carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2e), or in million
     metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCO2e) to allow comparison.
   o Estimates and reports GHG emission reduction, policy co-benefits and cost
     impacts for years 2012//2015 and 2020.
The Task Force and Working Group discussions will explore alternative policy designs,
including implementation mechanisms, and additional analysis as needed to reach final
consensus, with assistance from the DES facilitation team and the CSNE.
The Task Force and Working Groups will evaluate the cumulative results of options and
aggregate options into implementation scenarios.
The final Action Plan by DES will document Task Force recommendations and views on
each policy option, including alternative views as needed. It will also include a summary
of the New Hampshire GHG Emissions Inventory and Forecast and Task Force
recommendations for ensuring accountability and inventory review.




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