Letter to Jeanne Shaheen, US Senator Ann McLane Kuster, Congresswoman Kelly Ayotte, US Senator and Frank Guinta, Congressman - Governor Hassan Urges New Hampshire Congressional Delegation to Support Clean Power Plan

Letter

The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen
506 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Ann McLane Kuster
137 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Kelly Ayotte
144 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Frank Guinta
326 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Senator Shaheen, Senator Ayotte, Representative Kuster and Representative Guinta:

I write in support of the Clean Power Plan, and to urge you to do whatever is in your power to support this important step forward for our environment, our economy, and our state's future.

As I said when the plan was released, New Hampshire has long been a leader in efforts to cut carbon emissions and combat climate change while encouraging the creation of innovative energy technologies that help to grow our economy and empower our families and businesses to become more energy independent. But our progress toward cleaner air here in New Hampshire is slowed by other states that are not taking swift action to reduce pollution.

Addressing air quality and climate change is an economic imperative for our state. From our mountains to our lakes to the shores of our Seacoast, the awe-inspiring beauty of our natural resources is critical to our hunting, fishing and tourism industries.

The science is clear that greenhouse gas emissions and other man-made pollutants are the key contributors to climate change, which negatively affects our air and water quality, and leads to rising sea levels. And it is equally clear that climate change is threatening our economy, our environment, our people, and our way of life.

As a State Senator, I was proud to sponsor New Hampshire's original Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) legislation, forming a market-based regulatory program with Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. RGGI has brought numerous benefits to the Granite State, including reducing harmful emissions and helping to reduce energy costs, create jobs and encourage innovation in the state's clean-energy economy. I am also proud to have helped pass the New Hampshire Renewable Portfolio Standard to maintain and grow our investments in our clean, renewable energy sector. As Governor, I have worked to build on those efforts, signing bipartisan legislation to help maximize the benefits of RGGI for New Hampshire ratepayers, to update our Renewable Portfolio Standard law, and to establish a long-term New Hampshire Energy Strategy.

These laws have allowed us to increase investment in energy efficiency and clean energy, moving us toward greater energy independence. But unfortunately, air pollution reaches our state from areas of the country that haven't undertaken all of the clean air measures that we have in New Hampshire. It is unacceptable for our citizens to suffer from poor air quality because of the inaction of upwind states.

In April, I wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urging him to respect the science on these issues and reconsider his opposition to the proposed Clean Power Plan. It is long past time that we hold other states to the higher standards that the Granite State and other Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states have successfully implemented, while maintaining reliability and helping to spur clean energy innovation and investments. Our region has shown, through programs like RGGI, that it is possible to protect public health, spur energy innovation, and promote affordable, reliable energy sources for our economy.

The Clean Power Plan is an important step forward in our efforts to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment that will help our citizens, businesses and economy thrive, and I urge you to do whatever is in your power to support this important effort. Thank you for your consideration.

With every good wish,

Margaret Wood Hassan
Governor

Source