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Dalton passes temporary emergency zoning by small margin
At Dalton’s town meeting day, a measure to extend temporary emergency zoning for another year passed in a narrow vote, 135-130. Those in support of the measure hope it will help prevent a proposed landfill from being sited next to Forest Lake State Park. This issue, which has divided the town, has also become a […]
In landfill fight’s latest chapter, Dalton voters to decide on emergency zoning extension
This story was updated on June 10, 2021. 154,000 gallons of leachate were spilled, not tons. It was also updated to clarify that the House vote on SB 103 was 333 to 33 to pass the bill. During Tuesday’s annual town meeting, Dalton residents will vote on extending emergency zoning for another year, one of […]
Foresters, loggers grapple with loss of markets for low-grade wood
Burning wood to create electricity can be a problematic proposition. It’s often highly inefficient, it generates emissions, and it’s expensive. Without subsidies, wood-burning power plants often can’t afford to stay open. While it’s been billed as a renewable fuel – trees eventually grow back – environmentalists in the Northeast have increasingly opposed inefficient power plants […]
By transplanting eelgrass, scientists aim to restore balance to Great Bay
This story was updated June 8, 2021 to state that current wastewater treatment efforts reduce nitrogen to less than 5 milligrams per liter. Great Bay is a complex, convoluted system. That’s the first thing that Melissa Paly will tell you about it. She’s been a waterkeeper there for five years, working with the Conservation Law […]
Thursday House Roundup: From election law and ‘vaccine freedom’ to remote meetings and background checks
The New Hampshire House was in session Thursday at the NH Sportsplex in Bedford. Here’s a roundup of some of the day’s big votes. (You can read a separate story about the defeat of right-to-work legislation here.) House opts for control over local elections A bill that began as a bipartisan effort to address election […]
House defeats right-to-work legislation
The House defeated a right-to-work bill Thursday, 175-199, disappointing supporters who thought a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on mandatory union dues would persuade long-standing opponents to back it. House members then defeated a motion to table the bill, which would have meant it could have been subsequently reintroduced. A motion to postpone the bill […]
The Latest: ‘Communicable diseases’ language stripped from absentee voting bill
This story was updated June 3, 2021, at 4:13. The New Hampshire House is in session at the NH Sportsplex in Bedford. We will be watching for the vote on right-to-work legislation, Senate Bill 61, among others to come. Here’s a look at some of the votes so far: Communicable diseases as qualifying condition for […]
Omnibus environmental bill on renewable energy and utilities moves to the House
The House will take up an omnibus environmental bill on Thursday that would require the state to adopt rules about energy storage, among three other renewable energy measures. The legislation also includes proposals regarding hydroelectric generation, group credits for net metering, and the purchase of energy across states. With battery usage and other energy storage […]
Environmental Services says state is approaching widespread drought
Half of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, according to a recent report from the Department of Environmental Services. The state agency is urging water suppliers to track drought conditions and to ask individuals to conserve water. The state has put out guidance for municipalities on lawn-watering restrictions. Restrictions can go into place in […]
Senate OKs earlier state primary date, limits on governor’s emergency powers, PFAS protections
In a Senate session on Thursday, lawmakers approved proposals to move the primary from September to August, limit the governor’s emergency powers, and increase PFAS protections and funding. As senators approach the end of the session, they are up against a June 3 deadline to act on all pending legislation. Election law Two election law […]
Essential information about energy usage in the state is elusive, and that’s a costly problem
When April Salas set out to acquire information about energy usage in Hanover, she was in for an uphill battle. Salas is the sustainability director of the town, population 11,500, which has the resources to consider such a project. In 2018, Hanover decided to put together a program that would allow it to procure green […]
Sununu vetoes bill banning jet skis near coastal marshlands
On Tuesday, Gov. Chris Sununu issued his first veto of the session – shooting down House Bill 184, which would have banned jet skis within 300 feet of marshlands at the Rye estuary and the New Castle back channel. In his veto message, Sununu said the protection was unnecessary because the area does not experience […]