This bill, titled "AN ACT prohibiting offshore wind energy infrastructure," establishes a comprehensive ban on the development and infrastructure related to offshore wind energy in New Hampshire. It prohibits any person or entity from engaging in the landing, transmission, or installation of offshore wind energy cables, equipment, or related infrastructure within the state, whether by sea or land. The bill also includes provisions for civil forfeitures of up to $50,000 for violations, revocation of existing project permits, and potential misdemeanor or felony charges for continued violations. Additionally, it mandates that any violators responsible for environmental harm must restore affected areas.

In conjunction with these prohibitions, the bill repeals several existing entities and provisions related to offshore wind energy, including the office of offshore wind industry development and energy innovation, the offshore wind industry workforce training center committee, and the offshore wind and port development commission. The bill also removes references to offshore wind initiatives from the renewable energy fund and other related statutes. Overall, the legislation reflects New Hampshire's intent to protect its coastal environment and economy by preventing the importation and development of offshore wind energy projects.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 162-B:4, 362-F:10, 362-H:2