Landfill moratorium, out-of-state trash ban highlight Craig energy plan
Aug. 8—NASHUA — A moratorium on new landfills, ban on accepting out-of-state trash and expanding net metering are key provisions in the energy/climate change plan of Democratic candidate for governor Joyce Craig.
The former Manchester mayor said New Hampshire has among the highest energy costs in the country because political leaders have put the state woefully behind others trying to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels for power.
"We have one of the worst energy efficiency programs in the Northeast," Craig said. "We need to help more residents and businesses invest in energy saving appliances, energy efficient heating, and take steps to reduce the demand for energy."
She made the announcement at the ReVision Energy solar array near Pennichuck Middle School in Nashua.
The project produces 2.4 megawatts of power used primarily by Pennichuck Water Works of Nashua and Stonyfield Farm Yogurt in Londonderry.
"My Energy Independence and Climate Plan has three guiding principles: Lower energy costs for residents and businesses, diversify our state's energy supply, and do our part to reduce our carbon footprint and protect our state for future generations," Craig said.
Craig said she brought a one-megawatt solar array that helped lower her home city's energy costs by 60%.
She supported legislation Democratic lawmakers have pursued for years that would raise from 1-to-5 megawatts what individuals could generate from renewables and then sell back to the power grid known as net metering.
Many of Craig's proposals are similar to that of her Democratic primary rival, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington of Concord.
In her plan, Warmington said she would set standards to lead New Hampshire to "net zero emissions" from carbon sources by 2040.
Craig offers no such target.
Other states that are much further along with renewables than New Hampshire have set similar targets, but Craig said those states may be unable to reach them.
"New Hampshire has fallen very far behind. What this plan does right now is set clear action goals," Craig said.
"We need to start and then reassess where we are. We want to get to net zero."
Other parts of Craig's proposal would increase rebates for efficient electric appliances and heating systems, expand the solar programs for low-to-moderate income families, more rapidly develop offshore wind, bolster the state response to remediate contamination from PFAS or forever chemicals and provide incentives for lower-income residents to buy electric vehicles.
The rival campaign of Republican Kelly Ayotte said Craig's plan would lead to higher energy costs for consumers in the state.
"New Hampshire is one election away from Massachusetts — just look at Joyce's crazy plan that would drive up energy prices for all Granite Staters," said spokesman John Corbett. "If Joyce 'protects' New Hampshire's environment like she did Manchester's, the state is in deep trouble."
