Clean Power Act Becomes Law

By Doug MacPherson on Thursday, May 9, 2002.

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Governor Jeanne Shaheen signed into law today the first piece of legislation in the nation to address four major pollutants from power plants. Proponents of the measure are already calling for the rest of the nation to follow suit. NHPR?s Doug MacPherson has more.

THE CLEAN POWER ACT TOOK TWO YEARS TO NEGOTIATE, BUT PROPONENTS SAY ITS COMPLETION PUTS NEW HAMPSHIRE FAR IN FRONT OF EVERY OTHER STATE, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE NEW LAW REQUIRES POWER PLANTS TO CUT NITROGEN OXIDE, OR NOX, BY 70-PERCENT. TO CUT SULFUR DIOXIDE, OR SOX, BY 75-PERCENT. BOTH NOX AND SOX CONTRIBUTE TO ACID RAIN. IT MANDATES CAREFUL MEASURING OF MERCURY EMISSIONS AND CALLS FOR FUTURE, AS YET UNSPECIFIED CUTS IN MERCURY, A POTENT NEUROTOXIN. AND IT REQUIRES REDUCING CARBON DIOXIDE TO 1990 LEVELS BY 2007, WITH DEEPER, UNSPECIFIED CUTS TO FOLLOW. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1990 LEVELS CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH JUST A THREE-PERCENT CUT. STILL, THAT MODEST MANDATED REDUCTION IS THE FIRST IN THE NATION. GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN SAYS NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ALREADY FEELING THE AFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

TAPE SHAHEEN for anybody who?s lived in the state for longer than 10 years, we?ve all seen the affect on our weather patterns. And the north country is warming at a rate that?s almost three times the regional average. That threatens our ski industry, our fall foliage, maple sugaring, and trout fishing. All of those things are crucial to this state?s economy. :24

IN FACT, SHAHEEN SAYS ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT WILL BE A BOON TO THE STATE?S ECONOMY. BUT PERHAPS THE MOST REMARKABLE THING ABOUT THE CLEAN POWER ACT IS THAT P-S-N-H, WHICH OWNS THE STATE?S THREE FOSSIL FUEL BURNING PLANTS, SUPPORTS THE LAW. GARY LONG IS PRESIDENT OF P-S-N-H.

TAPE GARY LONG we very proud of this. The restrictions that we have on us are we believe the highest in the nation. There?s no other business in nh or in the nation that has such requirements placed on it. but due to the creativity of the group, we think we?ll achieve ? we know we?ll achieve real air quality improvement. And we know that the citizens that rely on us for electricity in a reliable and economic fashion will continue to have that provided here. :29

LONG REFERS TO THE GROUP THAT CRAFTED THE ACT -- LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH PARTIES, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES OFFICIALS, THE STATE?S MOST POWERFUL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, AND P-S-N-H OFFICIALS.
AFTER SIGNING THE MEASURE, SHAHEEN HANDED THE PEN TO ITS
THE PRIMARY ARCHITECT, KEN COLBURN. COLBURN, WHO?S LEAVING
LEAVING THE AIR DIVISION OF D-E-S, DESCRIBES THE CLEAN POWER ACT AS HIS SWAN SONG.

TAPE KEN COLBURN today represents a triumph over absolutism, of those who would prefer to do nothing if they can?t have everything. That?s not how public progress occurs. And then certainly over those who would indeed like to do nothing. :14

THE ABSOLUTISTS COLBURN REFERENCES INCLUDE THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SIERRA CLUB, NEW HAMPSHIRE PIRG, AND CLEAN WATER ACTION. THOSE GROUPS OPPOSED THE ACT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS FOR CREDIT TRADING ? WHICH WOULD ALLOW P-S-N-H TO BUY EMISSION CREDITS FROM OUT-OF-STATE UTILITIES IF THE COMPANY DOESN?T ACHIEVE REDUCTIONS AT ITS PLANTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. BUT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THAT HELPED WRITE THE BILL, INCLUDING THE AUDUBON SOCIETY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS, AND THE NEW HAMPSHIRE LAKES ASSOCIATION SIDED WITH D-E-S, WHICH ARGUED THAT EMISSION CUTS FROM UPWIND POLLUTERS WOULD BENEFIT NEW HAMPSHIRE?S AIR.

THE ACT?S CHIEF LEGISLATIVE SPONSOR, REPRESENTATIVE JEB BRADLEY OF WOLFEBORO, SAID THE FINAL PRODUCT MEETS HIS THREE PUBLIC POLICY OBJECTIVES.

TAPE BRADLEY we need a diverse fuel mix ? one that provides energy security for our future. Which means we should not be closing power plants. We need to continue to make efforts to lower electric rates. And so the cost had to be reasonable. And lastly, we not only had to provide clean air in nh, but set the stage for similar reductions in upwind states that blow most of their pollution our way. :24

FROM THE BEGINNING, THE CLEAN POWER ACT WAS CAREFULLY CRAFTED TO SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER STATES ? AND AS A GOAD TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ENACT SIMILAR LEGISLATION.
PRESIDENT BUSH?S CLEAR SKIES PROPOSAL IS SIMILAR, BUT WOULDN?T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 2018. THE CLEAN POWER ACT REQUIRES CUTS IN SOX AND NOX BY 2007. AND BUSH PROPOSES NO MANDATORY CUTS IN C-O-2. HE SAYS THE NATION CAN?T AFFORD THEM.

D-E-S?S KEN COLBURN SAYS CLIMATE CHANGE OFFERS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO STATES AND NATIONS THAT DEVELOP THE TECHNOLOGIES NEEDED TO COMBAT IT. HE SAYS MANY POWER PRODUCERS WANT TIGHTER EMISSIONS ? IF ONLY TO HELP THEM WRITE THEIR BUSINESS PLANS.

TAPE KEN COLBURN utilities want to see the whole picture. They want to know how to invest in the future. And would like CO2 in the mix. And many utilities are already saying that. the clean energy group, for example, has that position. :14

THE CLEAN ENERGY GROUP CONSISTS OF LARGE POWER PROVIDERS AND DISTRIBUTORS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO CLEANER ENERGY. THE GROUP INCLUDES NORTHEAST UTILITIES, WHICH OWNS P-S-N-H.
FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I?M DOUG MACPHERSON.

CPASPOT 5-10-02 MACPHERSON

GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN HAS SIGNED INTO LAW A MEASURE THAT REQUIRES POWER PLANTS TO REDUCE MAJOR AIR POLLUTANTS. THE LAW INCLUDES THE FIRST LEGISLATED CUTS IN CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE NATION. N-H-P-R?S DOUG MACPHERSON REPORTS.

TAPE audiovault ?NWS? ?CPASPOT? ( :45)

SOQ

THE NEW LAW IS MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN PRESIDENT BUSH?S CLEAR SKIES PROPOSAL. NEW HAMPSHIRE REQUIRES POWER PLANTS TO SHARPLY REDUCE OZONE AND ACID RAIN PRODUCING EMISSIONS, AND TO REDUCE C-O-2 TO 1990 LEVELS ? ALL BY 2007. PRESIDENT BUSH?S PLAN WOULDN?T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 2018, AND DOESN?T CUT C-O-2.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE LAW?S CHIEF ARCHITECT IS KEN COLBURN, HEAD OF THE STATE?S AIR RESOURCES PROGRAM. COLBURN SAYS MANY ELECTRIC PRODUCERS WELCOME TIGHTER REGULATIONS

TAPE KEN COLBURN utilities want to see the whole picture. They want to know how to invest in the future. And would like CO2 in the mix. And many utilities are already saying that. :10

NEW HAMPSHIRE OFFICIALS ARE CALLING ON UPWIND STATES TO ADOPT SIMILAR MEASURES. FOR N-P-R NEWS, I?M DOUG MACPHERSON IN CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.