You’ve come to know NHPIRG over the years as the group that gives Granite Staters a voice on a range of issues­—from protecting our drinking water to strengthening our democracy by engaging young voters to maintaining consumer safeguards.

Just last year we contributed to a number of victories, including:

• Passing a bill that takes the first step in reducing toxic mercury pollution from New Hampshire’s coal-burning power plants;

• Gaining $500,000 for the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) to protect New Hampshire’s most valuable open spaces, farmlands and forests (page 2); and

• Stepping up the debate on clean energy, nearly gaining legislative approval of a Clean Energy Standard to develop wind, biomass and solar energy in New Hampshire (page 1).

Obviously, there is still a lot of work to be done. After careful thought and planning, we have concluded that the best way to advance all of our work—both for consumers and the environment—is to separate our organization into two distinct groups.

I am extremely exited about the potential for Environment New Hampshire, the new home of NHPIRG’s environmental work, to have an immediate and major impact on the most pressing environmental issues facing our state. Meanwhile, NHPIRG will continue to be a strong and independent voice for citizens on issues like health care, government ethics and more.

Environment New Hampshire should look familiar to you­—we’ll keep using independent research, tough-minded advocacy, and citizen support to do whatever is necessary to make sure big polluters and developers don’t stand in the way of protecting the New Hampshire we all love.

As always, thank you for your support and for making possible all our work.