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Executive Council approves $250,000 in federal money to study the impact of offshore wind
A quarter of a million dollars of American Rescue Plan money will go toward studying the impacts of developing offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine, following Executive Council approval of the contract on Wednesday. The contract runs through June 30, 2023. The assessment will look at economic, energy, and environmental impacts associated with offshore […]
Executive Council to consider contract with Colorado firm to monitor energy efficiency efforts
Evaluating and monitoring energy efficiency efforts is key in ensuring that the state’s program is delivering on its promises. A $284,683 contract that would pay a Colorado firm to verify that work is up for a vote before the Executive Council on Wednesday. Consumer Advocate Don Kreis called the chosen firm, Skumatz Economic Research Associates, […]
New law places barrier on state joining low carbon fuel standard programs
This story and headline were updated on Aug. 2 at 2:42 p.m. to clarify that the version of the bill that was signed into law did not contain language preventing discussion of low carbon fuel standard programs. In 2019, Gov. Chris Sununu decided that New Hampshire would not join the Transportation and Climate Initiative, but […]
Policy experts say infrastructure deal could transform clean energy efforts, address inequity
A test vote on Wednesday advanced national legislation on a $550 billion infrastructure deal and cleared the way for debate to begin in the U.S. Senate. The plan contains significant measures for clean energy infrastructure – the subject of a policy symposium held at Dartmouth’s Irving Institute on Wednesday. During the discussion, policy experts raised […]
Bill changing the date of the state primary vetoed by Sununu
Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed a proposal to hold the state primary earlier in the year. House Bill 98 would have moved the state primary from the second Tuesday in September to the first Tuesday in August, a change proponents said would level the playing field between incumbents and newcomers. The bill, whose prime sponsor was […]
Business leaders outline harm caused by border closure
It’s time to open up. That was the message from business and tourism leaders who highlighted the economic and interpersonal harm of the ongoing northern border closure at a roundtable hosted by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen on Friday. While Canada has announced that it will be reopening its border to vaccinated Americans on Aug. 9, the […]
New laws bolster animal protection in the state
Gov. Chris Sununu signed three animal protection bills into law on Wednesday during a ceremony at the Salem Animal Rescue League, a nonprofit no-kill shelter, with lawmakers and advocates in attendance. House Bill 174 requires a driver who hits a cat to report it to either the animal’s owner or to a police officer. Under […]
Sununu signs election-related bills into law
Gov. Chris Sununu signed a handful of Republican-sponsored election bills into law late last week. That includes House Bill 77, a measure requiring town and city clerks to provide daily notifications to the Secretary of State’s Office of any filings for elected office. Rep. Ralph Boehm, a Litchfield Republican, was the prime sponsor. House Bill […]
With inclusivity in mind, efforts are underway to make the great outdoors great for all
In the past year, the conservation movement has been grappling with its racist roots and history. Organizations are trying to acknowledge the ways those roots extend into the present day – and fix it. Last July, the Sierra Club publicly apologized for its “substantial role in perpetuating white supremacy.” Key figures in the conservation movement, […]
Statute of limitations for PFAS-related harm doubles to six years
A bill was signed into law Friday creating a statute of limitations of six years for damages caused by exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, also commonly called PFAS. Previously, those impacted by the toxic chemicals had only three years to pursue legal action after they learned of harm from PFAS. The chemicals are known […]
Despite the rain, drought concerns linger: ‘We’re not out of the woods yet’
In July came the rain. Heavy, unrelenting rain fell for nearly three weeks – with some parts of the state getting inundated by over 7 inches of it. For some it was a relief after the unusually dry spring, for others the rain brought annoyance or concern due to flooding that hit parts of southern […]
New Hampshire Electric Co-op plans to more than double broadband coverage
The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative announced Thursday that it will be building fiber optic broadband connections to reach 1,500 of its members in Sandwich and Acworth. The cooperative anticipates that these connections will start providing high-speed internet service for homes and businesses in early 2022. The cooperative’s subsidiary, New Hampshire Broadband, will undertake the expansion […]