Amid Concerns over New England Energy Supplies this Winter, Shaheen Leads Delegation Call to Energy Secretary to Expedite Distribution of Federal Resources for NH Residents
**Lawmakers also asked Secretary Granholm to convene stakeholders in the New England region to plan for potential supply shortages or risks to grid reliability in the event of severe weather this winter.**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sent a letter with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) to the Department of Energy, urging Secretary Granholm to accelerate the distribution of 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.”
Additionally, the lawmakers called for the Department to work with federal agencies, industry, fuel suppliers, utilities, grid operators, the State and other stakeholders to ensure the New England region’s energy infrastructure can meet the challenges of any potential severe weather events this winter. The letter requests additional coordination and preparation to use emergency authorities, such as releases from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, should 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,” continued the delegation. The delegation’s push comes amid concerns over energy supplies to sustain the New England region throughout the winter.
As a senior appropriator, Senator Shaheen consistently advocates for reducing energy costs for New Hampshire residents. Earlier this month, the delegation announced that New Hampshire would receive $33.9 million in funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP). Shaheen is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds LIHEAP. Last month, Shaheen joined a bipartisan coalition of senators in a push urging for the swift release of LIHEAP funds. Shaheen also champions the Weatherization Assistance Program and other energy efficiency measures to help Granite Staters keep their energy usage down and lower their monthly bills. In late October, Shaheen hosted a roundtable discussion at Southern NH Services’ Sundance Village to highlight federal funds available to assist Granite Staters with home heating costs this winter. She also released a federal resource guide to help New Hampshire families navigate the programs and tax incentives available to them to help keep costs down this winter.
A copy of the delegation’s letter is available here.
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