Environmental Caucus Takes Root

A new House Environmental Caucus was launched this week with a mission to "share information and strategies in order to reach sensible, cost-effective and cohesive solutions to today’s complex environmental challenges." 

Its unofficial values statement: "a healthy environment is a cornerstone of New Hampshire’s economy, heritage, and attractiveness to the world as a destination and as a place to live and invest," according to a House news release.

Thirty-five legislators have joined the caucus so far.

"Given the contentious state of our political affairs, it’s worth recalling that the first Earth Day was a bi-partisan initiative," Rep. David Hess (R-Hooksett) said in the press release. "It was co-chaired by a Democratic senator from Wisconsin and a Republican from California. The original Clean Water and Clean Air legislation, both under a Republican president, were outgrowths of the original Earth Day in 1972. Those federal acts proved essential both for environmental quality and public health."

"New Hampshire has a well-earned reputation for respecting its forests, mountains, lakes and rivers,” said Rep. Rebecca Brown (D-Sugar Hill), in the announcement. "Our state’s appeal to tourists and new business investors, as well as our cherished lifestyle, are rooted in our scenic, healthy environment."

The environmental challenges identified include, according to the caucus:

• Understand the effects of climate change, aggressively pursue energy efficiency, and shift to clean renewable forms of energy.
• Advance New Hampshire's own renewable resources, such as woody biomass, for thermal and electric power generation in an effort to displace the usage of fossil fuels, better manage our forests, and provide greater energy independence."
• Develop a trained workforce and educated citizenry capable of transitioning to an economy much less dependent on fossil fuels.
• Site wind towers and other new energy generators and transmission corridors without jeopardizing hard-won conserved habitats and scenic assets.
• Consider the jobs and other economic benefits that can be gained for New Hampshire by burying new electrical transmission lines on state-owned rights-of-way.
• Encourage an invigorated agricultural economy and local production of healthy food.
• Support New Hampshire's conservation efforts to preserve special places through LCHIP.