In June 2008, Governor Lynch signed into law the Environment New Hampshire-backed Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This law will cut global warming emissions from power plants throughout the state. The bill allows New Hampshire to join other New England states, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Maryland in a market-based, cap and trade program to reduce regional emissions by ten percent over the next ten years. See our press release here.

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.