Governor Hassan and Senator Shaheen Highlight Support for Clean Power Plan

CONCORD, NH – Governor Maggie Hassan and United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen today joined environmental advocates and business leaders at the New Hampshire Audubon Society to call for support of the Clean Power Plan as an important step forward for New Hampshire’s environment and economy. Administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Power Plan establishes the first-ever national standards to limit carbon pollution from power plants. The Clean Power Plan establishes state-specific targets for carbon emissions reductions, and it offers a flexible framework under which states may meet those targets. 

“We know that a healthy environment and economic development go hand-in-hand, and that’s why addressing air quality and climate change is an economic imperative for our state,” Governor Hassan said. “The Clean Power Plan is an important step forward in our efforts to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment that will help our citizens, businesses and economy thrive. Together, we can protect our people, our environment, and our economy, but we need to act now.”

“Climate change poses a significant threat to New Hampshire’s environment and its economy,” said Shaheen. “The Granite State is doing its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but we need a federal standard to make sure our country moves forward together. In the past, I led the fight to stop efforts in the Senate to roll back Clean Air Act environmental protections, and I’ll do likewise with the Clean Power Plan.”

Governor Hassan has been urging support for the Clean Power Plan, and she consistently fights for clean air and water. As a State Senator, Governor Hassan sponsored New Hampshire's original Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative legislation, and she also helped enact the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard law. As Governor, she has signed bipartisan legislation to help maximize the benefits of RGGI for New Hampshire ratepayers, to update the Renewable Portfolio Standard law and to establish a long-term New Hampshire Energy Strategy.

Shaheen has been a leader on energy efficiency policies since her time as Governor of New Hampshire when she established the New Hampshire Building Energy Conservation Initiative. Earlier this year, President Obama signed into law Shaheen’s bipartisan targeted energy efficiency legislation the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, which will create jobs, save consumers money and reduce pollution.