About Environment New Hampshire
Environment New Hampshire is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. Our mission is to combine independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for New Hampshire’s environment.
Promoting clean and smart energy
New Hampshire is overly reliant on fossil fuels that pollute our air and water, and on nuclear power that generates dangerous radioactive waste. Shifting to clean, homegrown energy and increasing energy efficiency are solutions that put consumers ahead of big energy companies, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and improve public health.
- Environment New Hampshire supports incentives to encourage the development of clean, renewable power, such as solar, wind and clean biomass facilities. Environment New Hampshire opposes state subsidies and ratepayer increases that promote the use of dirty energy sources, such as coal and nuclear.
- Environment New Hampshire supports local control over clean energy and energy efficiency programs by establishing local energy commissions in towns and cities across the state.
- Environment New Hampshire supports incentives for clean energy that require utility companies to offer a renewable energy service option to their customers.
Curbing global warming and air pollution
New Hampshire has a great deal to lose from the effects of global warming. Curbing global warming pollution from power plants and motor vehicles is a necessary first step to put New Hampshire on a path to cut climate emissions at least 80 percent by mid-century.
- Environment New Hampshire supports participation in the market-based Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to cap global warming pollution and use the program’s revenue to fund clean energy and conservation programs.
- Environment New Hampshire supports swift implementation of the priority initiatives recommended in the governor’s comprehensive Climate Action Plan.
- Environment New Hampshire supports the reduction of harmful pollutants and global warming emissions by establishing a requirement that a certain percentage of vehicles sold in New Hampshire meet zero and/or low emission standards.
Recycling and solid waste reduction
Each year in New Hampshire, more than 1.6 million tons of solid waste are disposed of in landfi lls or by incineration, and more than 11,000 tons of hazardous waste are generated and shipped for disposal. Increased trash generation and improper disposal create water pollution from leaking landfi lls and toxic air pollution from incineration.
- Environment New Hampshire supports efforts to reduce waste by implementing a state surcharge on beverage containers to fund solid waste and recycling programs statewide.
- Environment New Hampshire supports the establishment of a program to encourage the recycling of electronic waste, as well as safe and proper disposal.
Protecting our land and waterways
New Hampshire is the fastest-growing state in New England, and risks losing its pristine waterways, wild forests and family farms to rampant over-development. New Hampshire must act now to limit actions that risk damaging or swallowing up our lakes, rivers, forests and open space.
- Environment New Hampshire supports the promotion of clean water and preservation programs by using federal dollars for projects such as wetlands restoration, toxic runoff prevention, water efficiency and conservation, and repairing existing water treatment infrastructure.
- Environment New Hampshire supports preserving New Hampshire’s wetlands, such as the Great Bay Estuary, by tightening restrictions on harmful development adjacent to the state’s wetland areas.
- Environment New Hampshire supports the protection of undeveloped farmland and open space by maintaining dedicated funding for the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program as established in 2007.
