Senate Approves Mercury Cut

By Dan Gorenstein on Thursday, March 24, 2005.

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The State Senate has passed a plan to cut mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants by more than half beginning in 2009.

New Hampshire Public Radio's Dan Gorenstein reports.

The measure enjoyed bi-partisan support, passing 14-9.

The proposal calls for the state's two coal-fired power plants, both owned by PSNH, to reduce mercury emissions from 129 lbs a year to 50 lbs a year by 2009.

And to further reduce the rate by 2013 to 24 lbs a year.

The vote comes on the heels of a critical report by the Biodiversity Research Institute.

That study identified the state's southeaster corner as one of nine so-called mercury contamination hot spots in New England.

Lakes and ponds in the region have posted advisories about increased levels of mercury in fish and wildlife.

Exeter Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan says before the vote she was concerned the Senate may prefer a cap and trade system for the power plants.

T.31
:58 the EPA has taken the position that you can trade mercury credits the way you can carbon dioxide credits. The problem is mercury creates local hot spots down wind from plants, therefore trading doesn't help the hot spots.

Last week, the EPA created a national cap and trade plan for mercury emissions.

Hassan and other supporters feared a similar system in New Hampshire would only prolong the pollution, putting environmental and public health at risk.

Some worry the state's Senate bill is simply too ambitious.

Senate opponents and PSNH officials both say it will be very expensive and near impossible to meet the standards outlined in the legislation.

PSNH spokesperson Martin Murray.

5:43 This bill could conceivably force the shutdown of Merrimack station. B/c of the impossibility of hitting this timetable the Senate wants us to achieve. That would have a significant cost on our customers.

How much mercury reduction will cost is one of the big question marks in the bill.

Citing Department of Environmental Service estimates, Senator Hassan says PSNH rate payers would have difficulty noticing the increase.

1:29 my understanding is that...PSNH will have the right to pass this on to their rate payers. The estimates from the Department are about 81 cents a month for the average rate payer. That's less than a cup of coffee to clean up our water, and make it safe to eat our fish again...

PSNH's Martin Murray isn't so sure.

9:08 if there was a solution to this problem that was as economical as some of the supporters of this bill believe...we would be first in line with our wallets open. But there is no cheap fix to such a complex challenge...there is no box on a shelf waiting to be purshcased and slapped on Merrimack station.

Murray says the available technology for mercury reduction is still in the laboratory phase.

He says he's just disappointed the Senate didn't consider the interests of PSNH customers.

But Manchester Republican Senator Ted Gatsas for one seemed confident PSNH customers would be satisfied.

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:33 I think if the rate payers were asked, would you rather see a rate increase that guarantees profit, or a rate increase that is going to save lives, rate payers would probably tell you they rather see a rate increase to save lives.

The bill now moves to the House.

For NHPR News, I'm DG.