Published: 8/7/2021 7:00:15 AM
Gov. Sununu quietly signed a bill that was sponsored by industry and passed to NH’s GOP leadership by Americans for Prosperity (AFP). The bill puts a roadblock between NH’s Department of Environmental Services and their colleagues in other New England states, any regional compacts, and even federal agencies. It was designed to stop all talk regarding the changes that are happening in the transportation sector to incorporate electric vehicles into our region and economy.
HB 373 was signed into law with language that puts approval from both the NH Legislature and executive council in between NH DES and its ability to work with any colleagues working on transportation emissions. The transportation sector makes up 44% of NH’s emissions and is the obvious next choice for our attention in terms of climate policy. The governor is happy to do AFP’s bidding and therein lies the rub. The NH House Science, Technology & Energy Committee must return to using science to guide its decisions on behalf of New Hampshire. The current chairman, Rep. Michael Vose, said in a public hearing that he believes electric vehicles are a fad, even though every major vehicle manufacturer has announced end-dates for new cars with combustion engines.
The governor should know better than to put his personal political future ahead of the state’s future. We need leaders who do not bury their heads in the sand. Ignoring reality is the costliest choice and our GOP leaders are not only choosing it, but they are also enshrining it in law.
Kat McGhee
Hollis
