Defend New Hampshire's Cornerstone Clean Energy Program

What’s at stake: our clean air and energy independence

New Hampshire is too dependent on dirty sources of energy. Burning fossil fuels for electricity pollutes our air and water, and causes global warming. Our reliance on heating oil undermines our energy independence.

We’re starting to make progress. Our state’s cornerstone clean energy program, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (also known as RGGI), charges polluters for their emissions and then invests that money into energy efficiency and clean energy development.

And RGGI is working. With a RGGI grant, the Lakes Region Community College developed a new job training program in 2009 to put residents back to work in the energy efficiency industry. To date, 150 alums of the program are weatherproofing buildings, installing more efficient lighting and putting solar panels on roofs.

Powerful utilities aren’t backing down

Big utility companies and their allies in the Legislature have launched one attack on RGGI after another. They’re pulling out all the stops to repeal New Hampshire’s cornerstone clean energy program. If their attempt to keep us hooked on dirty energy succeeds, we will lose ground on years of clean energy progress.

Last year their attack on clean energy failed when the governor vetoed the repeal of RGGI. Overwhelming public support convinced key senators to stand up with the governor for clean energy.

But the polluters and their allies have filed another bill this year — so we need to keep up the fight.

With your activism and advocacy, we can defend clean energy

We refuse to let out-of-state oil and coal companies roll back this important program. We’re bringing together New Hampshire residents from all walks of life — fishers, veterans, small business owners and more — to defend New Hampshire’s clean energy future.

Already, hundreds have contacted their lawmakers and attended hearings. Across the state, citizens are calling or emailing legislators, signing petitions, spreading the word to friends and family, and attending hearings.

We need to once again show our legislators that a vote against clean energy is a vote against New Hampshire. If enough of us speak out, we can move New Hampshire toward 100% clean, renewable energy.

Learn more

Click on the RGGI fact sheet to find out more.