What's New
State legislators are gearing up for the 2008 legislative
session, where they will consider giving state approval to the Regional Greenhouse
Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional program to cap global warming pollution from
power plants in the region 10 percent by 2019. Environment New Hampshire is working to build support
for this upcoming legislation, and make sure the bill prioritizes achieving real
global warming emission reductions and uses revenue from the program for energy
efficiency and conservation programs.
How You Can Help
Call your state Representative
and tell them you want to see the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
pass this year, with real global warming emission reductions and with
proceeds going toward energy efficiency and conservation.
Background
Much of what we love about New Hampshire – dazzling fall foliage,
snow-covered winters, maple syrup, and our small but treasured coast – is all
at risk of disappearing if we don’t take swift and serious action to curb
global warming. Every state needs to do
its part to solve global warming, and we owe it to our children to act now.
Fortunately for New
Hampshire, Gov. Lynch joined the other Northeast
states in a cooperative agreement, called the Regional Greenhouse Gas
Initiative (RGGI), to cut our state’s global warming pollution from power
plants by 10 percent by 2019. But in order for New Hampshire to join
the program in time – by 2009 – state legislators need to approve the program this
spring.
RGGI
will utilize a "cap-and-trade" system: the New Hampshire will set
limits (caps) on emissions and then issue permits (allowances) equal to
the tons of CO2 allowed by the cap. Power generators are then allowed
to buy permits from each other (known as trading).
Brutally-hot and humid summers, yearly droughts, increased
flooding, poorer air quality and rainy, slushy winters is what scientists
expect us to see in the next century in New Hampshire if we continue to pollute
the way we are.
By joining RGGI, we’ll be taking action here at the state
level to cut our greenhouse gas emissions and paving the way for future efforts
to control global warming pollution at the federal level.
With all that we have to lose here in New Hampshire, we cannot wait. And a lack of action on the federal level
means that every state must do its part.
That’s why we’re asking members to join us in calling on state leaders
to approve the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to stop global warming right
here and now.
