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Report: Disparate outcomes for girls tied to race, geography, and gender
While most of New Hampshire’s girls are white, the population of diverse girls increased by 61 percent between 2006 and 2019, according to a new report by the New Hampshire Women’s Foundation. Of the 125,000 girls who live in New Hampshire, 7 percent are Hispanic or Latina, 5 percent are multiracial, 3 percent are Asian, […]
Assistance for farmers will cover organic certification costs
Pandemic assistance is now available to cover certification costs for farmers who have switched or are in the process of switching to organic agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing a total of $20 million that farmers can apply for to cover certain expenses from 2020 and 2021 – including the cost of organic […]
PUC staffer nominated as ‘special commissioner’ on energy efficiency program dispute
Attorney F. Anne Ross was nominated at Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting to serve as a special commissioner on the Public Utilities Commission, which she works for as general counsel. If confirmed, Ross would be acting on a total of 26 various issues that are currently before the utilities commission, including the contentious triennial energy efficiency […]
No-bid contract leads to testy exchange and near loss of six new vaccination sites
The state barely secured six additional walk-in vaccination sites capable of providing 15,000 shots a week after a vote Wednesday by three councilors who opposed a $7.2 million contract because it was not put out to bid, a process that would delay the sites by as much as three months. Gov. Chris Sununu did not […]
For new farmers, accessing land remains a barrier
This article was updated at 9:14 a.m. on Dec. 21 to correct the name of the non-profit it references, which is Land for Good. For Andal Sundaramurthy, the path to finding what she calls her forever farm was bumpy at best. The process was full of failed attempts and false starts. In the end, it […]
Consumer advocate asks for disqualification of commissioner in energy efficiency case
The state’s consumer advocate, Don Kreis, asked for Commissioner Pradip Chattopadhyay’s disqualification from a contentious energy efficiency issue that is currently before the Public Utilities Commission. Before Chattopadhyay’s recent appointment as a commissioner, he worked with Kreis as an administrator at the Office of the Consumer Advocate. Kreis and Chattopadhyay disagree over whether that work […]
Center awarded grant to grow health care workforce, boost cultural competency
The Southern New Hampshire Area Health Education Center has been awarded a $528,000 grant to grow the health care workforce and provide trainings on cultural competency. The center, a department of Lamprey Health Care, is the only program in the state to promote health care careers “with an emphasis on minority, disadvantaged populations, and rural […]
Is cutting down a tree for Christmas bad for the environment?
Christmas is a time for celebrating the season and a time for cutting down trees – and that holiday tradition sometimes leads to discussions about what’s best for the environment: Is it greener to buy a real tree or a fake tree, or abstain altogether? UNH forest resources specialist Steven Roberge explained some of the […]
Business and Industry Association says it is opposed to energy efficiency program cuts
The Business and Industry Association sent a letter to the Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday joining those who have asked the agency to suspend its decision to cut funding for state energy efficiency programs. The letter was signed by David Juvet, interim president of the organization – which bills itself as a leading business advocate […]
Casella withdraws wetlands permit application, plans to resubmit next year
Casella Waste Systems sent a letter to residents of Dalton late last week informing them that it would be withdrawing a wetlands permit application related to its proposed landfill near Forest Lake. The company plans to resubmit the application in 2022. The landfill plan has divided the town of Dalton, and some opponents of the […]
Sununu letter supports Department of Energy’s stance on energy efficiency programs
In a letter to Department of Energy Commissioner Jared Chicoine on Tuesday, Gov. Chris Sununu praised the department for raising concerns about the state’s energy efficiency plan. On Friday, the Department of Energy asked the Public Utilities Commission to either clarify or reconsider a contentious November decision cutting funding for state energy efficiency programs. The […]
Department of Energy joins those asking PUC to reconsider energy efficiency decision
The N.H. Department of Energy asked the Public Utilities Commission to either clarify or reconsider a contentious November decision cutting funding for state energy efficiency programs. The request was filed by Department of Energy attorney Brian Buckley on Friday, the same day that all of the state’s utilities, along with environmental, clean energy, and ratepayer […]