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Climate, Air Quality, and Weather Stories July 29, 2002 Governor Calls Passage of Clean Power Act A Landmark Step for Clean Air CONCORD - Gov. Jeanne Shaheen called today's Senate passage of the Clean Power Act, which she proposed with bipartisan legislative sponsors, a landmark step for clean air. The legislation will make New Hampshire the first state in the nation to legislate a reduction in four common pollutants from power plants, including carbon dioxide. "Cleaning our air is essential to protecting the health of our citizens, preserving our environment and ensuring our future state's future economic success. This is a landmark step for clean air, putting New Hampshire out in front of the rest of the nation in acting to protect air," Gov. Shaheen said. "With this legislation, New Hampshire is sending a powerful message to other states and the federal government. Pollution does not respect state boundaries. Other states and the federal government must follow our lead so that downwind states like New Hampshire have clean air," Gov. Shaheen said. The House has already passed the bill. Under the Clean Power Act, Public Service Company of New Hampshire, the owner of the state's three fossil-fuel power plants, Merrimack Station in Bow, Newington Station in Newington and Shiller Station in Portsmouth, must take steps that result in reductions of emissions of sulfur dioxide, the chief cause of acid rain; of nitrogen oxide, which causes ozone smog; of carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change; and ultimately of mercury, which threatens the health of both humans and wildlife. "New Hampshire has shown that it can be done. We brought people together, Republicans and Democrats, business and environmentalists, to find a common sense solution that would work," Gov. Shaheen said. To meet the requirements of the Clean Power Act, the owners of New Hampshire's fossil fuel plants must either install new technology to reduce emissions or purchase expensive emissions credits from other power plants that have already reduced their pollution, or use a combination of the two. The legislation includes incentives for PSNH to make their pollution reductions here in New Hampshire or nearby - where New Hampshire citizens will benefit the most from the reduced pollution - by making it more expensive to buy credits from power plants outside the region. Pamela Walsh THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2002 (603) 271-2121 phone (603) 564-5614 pager |
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