Climate Fast Facts: New Hampshire

Climate & Energy Resources

• Latest Climate Science (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• Global Warming & New Hampshire (National Wildlife Federation)
• Cost of Delay (Environmental Defense Fund)
• Meeting the International Clean Energy and Climate Change Challenges (The White House)

Jobs

The clean energy economy will be a boon to the citizens of New Hampshire. The state could gain 8,000 jobs and about $650 million in investment revenue if $150 billion was invested in clean energy nationwide, and drop unemployment by 1 percent.

• Clean-Energy Investments Create Jobs in New Hampshire (Center for American Progress/PERI)
• New Hampshire: Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Clean Energy and Climate Policies Lead to Economic Growth in New Hampshire (Environmental Entrepreneurs)

Opportunity

The Granite State has the potential to be a significant host to clean energy enterprise. A nationwide $100 billion investment in green infrastructure over the next two years would bring some 900 jobs in solar and wind industries to the state. Under the ACES bill New Hampshire would receive $291 million for expanded energy efficiency investments, $166 million for oil, propane, and kerosene energy efficiency investments.

• ACES Funding for Efficiency Investments- NH (Environment Northeast)
• Charting a New Path for New Hampshire’s Electricity Generation and Use (National Wildlife Federation)
• The Clean Energy Economy: New Hampshire (Pew Center)
• Renewable Energy Works: New Hampshire
• Energy Efficiency: Engine of Economic Growth (Environment Northeast)

Cut Costs

The average family in New Hampshire would save $5.82 per month on their energy bills and a whopping $21.86 per month on vehicle fuel costs if the American Clean Energy and Security Act was enacted.

• Climate Bill Cuts Electricity Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Climate-Protection Policies Cut Fuel Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• Summary of Competitiveness Provisions in ACES (Center for Clean Air Policy)
• Carbon Cap Critics Predict Healthy Economy in New Hampshire under Cap-and-Trade (PERI/UMASS)
• Clean Energy, Green Jobs: A National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Boost the Economy and Protect the Environment (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Climate Consequences

If the climate crisis is not addressed, significant health, trade, agricultural and water issues will affect New Hampshire. An EPA study reveals degraded air quality, heat waves, droughts, and extreme rainfall with flooding, sea level rise, and early snowmelt will likely plague the state. Early snowmelt may change much of New Hampshire’s winter sport culture and tourism.

• Human Health Impacts of Global Warming on New Hampshire (Pew Center)
• Global Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.: Northeast Assessment (Union of Concerned Scientists)
• Hotter Fields, Lower Yields: Global Warming's Impact on Agriculture (Environment America)

• Climate Change in the United States: The Prohibitive Costs of Inaction (Union of Concerned Scientists)

State Actions

While Congress debates climate and energy legislation on the Hill, New Hampshire has established itself as an undisputed leader in state climate legislation. The state has written a climate action plan, and is member of the northeast’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative cap-and-trade system. The state also has one of the most robust renewable energy portfolio standard plans (23.8 percent by 2025), public benefit funds for energy efficiency, financial incentives for biofuels and set a state emissions target of 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

• New Hampshire Climate Action Plan
• Repower New Hampshire (Alliance for Climate Protection)
• State Action on Global Warming (Pew Center on Climate Change) (see maps on state actions)

Regulating Carbon Markets

• Five Reasons Why Trading Allowances Will Help Meet Our Climate Objectives (Natural Resources Defense Council)
• The Senate’s Role in Getting Carbon Market Regulation Right (Natural Resources Defense Council)

News & Opinion

• Don't Inhibit ACES (NHBR)