The New Hampshire Climate Action Plan released today by Granite State Governor John Lynch contains two ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It establishes a long-term goal aimed at reducing emissions to a level 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. It also recommends a mid-term goal aimed at reducing emissions to a level 20 percent below those present in 1990 by 2025.
“Here in New Hampshire, we already recognize that climate change poses serious risks to the health of our citizens, to our quality of life and to our economic future,” Lynch was quoted as saying in a press release. “And we are already national leaders in efforts to cut pollution, to build a new energy future and to build a greener economy.”
“This report will help us build on the efforts we’ve already made to reduce the pollution that causes global warming and climate change.”
The plan states that the majority of New Hampshire’s greenhouse gas emissions are produced by the use of fossil fuels for energy, heat, and transportation. Its release comes at a time of intense debate over the future of the state’s only coal burning power plant.
The New Hampshire Climate Change Task Force, formed by Lynch in December of 2007, worked for more than a year to produce the plan. It recommends a total of 67 actions that stake policy makers can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, broken down into ten areas of focus.
1. Maximize energy efficiency in buildings:
Maximize Efficiency in New Construction
Maximize Energy Efficiency in Existing Residential Buildings
Maximize Energy Efficiency in Existing Commercial, Industrial, and Municipal Buildings
Install Higher-Efficiency Equipment, Processes, and Systems
Increase the Use of Combined Heat and Power
Consider Alternative Rate Design
Upgrade Building Energy Codes
Increase Building Energy Code Compliance
Establish an Energy Properties Section in Real Estate Property Listings
Conserve Embodied Energy in Existing Building Stock
2. Increase renewable and low-CO2-emitting sources of energy in a long-term sustainable manner:
Promote Renewable Energy through the Electric Portfolio Standard (RPS)
Increase Renewable and Low-CO2 Thermal Energy Systems
Promote Low- and Non-CO2-Emitting Electric Generation
Identify and Deploy the Next Generation of Electric Grid Technologies
Promote Low- and Non-CO2-Emitting Distributed Generation
Encourage the Use of Biogenic Waste Sources for EnergyGeneration
Implement Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
Enable Importation of Canadian Hydro and Wind Generation
Allow Regulated Utilities to Build Renewable Generation
3. Support regional and national actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
Support Stricter Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards
Support Fuel Economy Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Adopt a Low-Carbon Fuel Standard
Promote Advanced Technology Vehicles and Supporting Infrastructure
Support Strong Climate Action at the Federal Level
4. Reduce vehicle emissions through state actions:
Adopt California Low Emission Vehicle (CALEV) Standards
Create a Point-of-Sale Financial Incentive for Higher-Efficiency Vehicles
Install Retrofits to Address Black Carbon Emissions
Implement Commuter Trip Reduction Initiative
Increase Highway Automobile Efficiency
Address Vehicle Idling
Improve Traffic Flow
5. Encourage appropriate land use patterns that reduce vehicle-miles traveled:
Assess Greenhouse Gas Development Impact Fees
Streamline Approvals for Low- Greenhouse Gas Development Projects
Develop Model Zoning to Support Bus/Rail Transit
Develop Model Zoning for Higher-Density, Mixed-Use Development
Continue/Expand Funding, Education, and Technical Assistance to Municipalities
6. Reduce vehicle-miles traveled through an integrated multi-modal transportation system:
Improve Existing Local/Intra-Regional Transit (Bus) Service
Expand Local/Intra-Regional Transit (Bus) Service
Improve Existing Inter-City Bus Service
Expand and Improve Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure
Maintain and Expand Passenger Rail Service
Maintain and Expand Freight Rail Service
Implement a Stable Funding Stream to Support Public Transportation
Expand Park-and-Ride Infrastructure
7. Protect natural resources (land, water and wildlife) to maintain the amount of carbon fixed or sequestered:
Invest in Forests to Maximize Carbon Storage and to Avoid Net Forest Land Conversion
Optimize Availability of Biomass for Electricity and Heating within Sustainable Limits
Promote Durable Wood Products
Protect Agricultural Land
Maximize Source Reduction, Reuse and Recycling
8. Lead by example in government operations:
Establish an Energy Management Unit to Address State Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Establish an Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Baseline Inventory for State Government
Establish a Self-Sustaining Fund for Energy Efficiency Projects in State Government
Provide for the Establishment of Local Energy Commissions
Include Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Programs and Planning
Promote Public School Siting and Building Aid to Reduce Energy Use
9. Plan for how to address existing and potential climate change impacts:
Develop a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the State of New Hampshire
Develop and Distribute Critical Information on Climate Change
Promote Policies and Actions to Help Populations Most at Risk
Charge and Empower Public Health Officials to Prepare for Climate Change
Strengthen Protection of New Hampshire’s Natural Systems
Increase Resilience to Extreme Weather Events
Strengthen the Adaptability of New Hampshire’s Economy to Climate Change
10. Develop an integrated education, outreach and work-force training program:
Develop an Overarching Outreach and Education Plan
Include Energy Efficiency and Conservation in School Curriculum
Increase Energy Efficiency through Building Management Education Programs
Reduce Residential Energy Demand through Education and Outreach
Establish a Comprehensive Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Education Program
Create an Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Systems Web Portal
The complete plan is now available in PDF form on the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services website. Click here to view the plan in its entirety.
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