New Hampshire's Senate today voted twenty-two to two to reduce mercury emissions within seven years.
For the most part, Senators of both parties argued that requiring mercury reductions of 80 percent by 2013 is a good move for New Hampshire.
Senator Bob Odell of Lempster was on board with that mindset.
this is the right step to take to reduce health and environmental risks in the state of new hampshire. this bill is a positive attempt to minimize mercury with minimal impact on rates.
Under the bill, the state would require Public Service of New Hampshire to install new scrubbers at its Bow power plant to make the reductions.
And though several environmental groups signed on to the measure, a few others have criticized it.
Those groups have said reductions of 90 percent are possible, and the state should require them much sooner than 2013.
Senator Jack Barnes of Raymond brought up their concerns during debate.
And he directed them toward Senator Lou D'Allessandro of Manchester, who was speaking in support of the bill.
based on what i've heard and read, everyone, all the holders, senator D'Allessandro are not in favor of this compromise. there are some conservation groups that are dead set against that 2013. and there are some that are very much in favor of it. so you're talking about a compromise...not everyone and all the holders agreed with that compromise that you're so happy with. thank you very much.
again, thank you very much for your question, senator barnes. christ had 12 apostles. only 11 of them supported him. we didn't have unanimity. and in every situation there are dissenters. thank you mr president.
In the end, Senator Robert Boyce of Alton voted with Senator Barnes against the bill.
But before the vote, Senator Peter Burling of Cornish reminded his colleagues what the bill would accomplish.
we are talking about instituting a compromise which will begin to extract from the air we breathe one of the most deadly toxins known to man. and lest we forget what we're dealing with here, its a hundred and twenty five pounds per year.....
The Senate's vote to approve the bill puts in on track to become law.
The House has already passed it.
And Governor Lynch says he'll sign it.
Despite this, Doug Bogen of Clean Water Action in Portsmouth, a group that's criticized the bill, says he doesn't think lawmakers went as far as they should have.
its not clear that we're going to get significantly
greater reductions now than what we would have gotten under the federal administration. it will happen sooner, but certainly not soon enough.
Lawmakers say PSNH can make reductions sooner than 2013, if technology develops that further reduces mercury.
And PSNH officials have assured lawmakers they will employ the technology if it becomes available.
