Please help AMC preserve the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), an important NH clean energy program, by thanking your State Senator for not repealing RGGI, as was the intent of HB-519, passed by the House last month. Instead, urge your senator to retain the program's integrity and its core goals of reducing energy use and emissions, and fostering energy efficiency in our state.
Take Action: An opportunity to change course from last month's passage by the NH House of a bill to repeal the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has emerged in the State Senate where consideration of amendments, rather than repeal, is underway. The NH RGGI program works in concert with 9 other states to reduce greenhouse gases in our region. It is crafted so that states can improve energy efficiency and reduce energy demand. It has been effective and beneficial to NH citizens and if amended must continue to reduce our state's energy use and foster efficiency measures.
Write your senator and ask them to support a strong NH RGGI program that retains these important features to ensure NH's clean energy future.
Ask your State Senator to support these key NH RGGI features:
- Keep NH in RGGI, without a contingency clause
One proposal is to write into law a contingency clause requiring NH to drop out of RGGI if another state does so. Allowing another state to define NH's fate in the RGGI program seems counter to NH values and such an approach would have no economic benefit to our citizens, as energy prices would remain the same.
- Keep all RGGI funds in energy efficiency reduction programs
In the past, NH lawmakers chose to invest 100% of the state's RGGI money in efficiency projects and programs designed to reduce energy demand for businesses and homeowners, based on the findings of a UNH economic study that found this approach could provide the greatest benefit to NH ratepayers. NH should continue to support this approach.
- Keep the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Board (EESE)
The Senate may consider an amendment to eliminate the EESE Board, yet this idea was dropped from the original House version of the RGGI repeal bill, HB 519-FN. The EESE board brings together private and public sector experts on energy policy to consider and recommend policy and best practices. It should not be eliminated.
Labels: conservation, Conservation Action Network, New Hampshire