RELEASE: Governor Maggie Hassan Discusses Clean Energy at Peterborough Solar Array

Press Release

Today, Governor Maggie Hassan joined environmental leaders and local officials at the Peterborough solar array to discuss the priorities she will take to the U.S. Senate to protect our environment, encourage innovation in New Hampshire's clean energy economy, and build a stronger, more affordable energy future for our families and businesses.

"It's great to be at our state's largest solar array, an innovative project that shows that protecting our environment and moving our economy forward go hand in hand," said Governor Maggie Hassan. "I'm proud of the efforts we've taken to grow our state's clean, renewable energy sector, and we need the federal government to follow New Hampshire's lead. Unfortunately, in Washington, Senator Kelly Ayotte has stood with special interests like Koch Brothers at the expense of our environment and clean energy economy. Investing in clean energy is imperative to helping our citizens, our businesses and our economy thrive, and in the Senate, I will always fight for action to protect our state's future."

"At Borrego Solar Systems, we have been proud to partner with the town of Peterborough on this solar array project, and I thank Governor Hassan for her leadership in supporting clean energy solutions. I know that we can trust Governor Hassan to bring this same commitment to protecting our environment and developing a clean energy economy to the United States Senate, and I am proud to support her candidacy." said Chris Anderson of Borrego Solar Systems, Inc.

"The Sierra Club was proud to endorse Maggie Hassan for Senate. She's consistently proved herself to be a climate champion as our Governor, restoring funding for conservation programs, helping our state's coastal communities prepare for the effects of climate change, and strongly supporting the Clean Power Plan. New Hampshire needs Maggie Hassan in the U.S. Senate." said Jim Allmendinger of the New Hampshire Sierra Club.

"It was a privilege to welcome Governor Maggie Hassan to the state's largest solar array -- twice the size of the second largest -- here in Peterborough. Throughout her time in office, Governor Hassan has supported legislation related to clean energy technology and set aggressive goals for energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy, which will help us combat climate change and save taxpayer dollars. I look forward to her taking her efforts to the Senate in order to build on the progress she's made here in New Hampshire," said Barbara Miller, member of the Select Board of Peterborough.

As a State Senator, Governor Hassan sponsored the legislation that allowed the state to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to reduce harmful emissions and energy costs, create jobs and encourage innovation in New Hampshire's clean energy economy. She also helped pass the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to maintain and grow our clean, renewable energy sector.

As Governor, she has built on these efforts by signing bipartisan legislation to update RGGI and New Hampshire's RPS, establishing a long-term New Hampshire Energy Strategy that focuses on clean, renewable energy, and raising the net metering cap to help New Hampshire's solar energy industry continue to grow and thrive.

In the Senate, Maggie will fight to build on New Hampshire's progress and work to achieve a cleaner environment and stronger energy future that will help our citizens, businesses and economy thrive. Maggie supports policies such as setting a strong national target of 50 percent clean and carbon-free electricity by 2030 and expanding RGGI's reach by encouraging more states to join. She will also work to build on New Hampshire's leadership in boosting clean energy efforts by creating a strong national net metering model rule and extending clean energy tax incentives, while ending special tax breaks for Big Oil companies.

Meanwhile, Senator Kelly Ayotte has shown time and again that she sides with corporate special interests at the expense of our natural resources. Ayotte has voted multiple times to protect tax breaks for Big Oil, was the only New England Senator to vote against critical clean water protections and has an environmental record that is worse than former Senator Scott Brown's.

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