NEW HAMPSHIRE - On August 24th, Governor Sununu, along with other State Representatives who deny climate change, released a statement in opposition to ISO-NE’s new budget proposal that included funding for an official environmental justice position. He called it a “wasteful” expense that “accommodates policy choices designed to compel progressive societal change.” Sununu’s statement shows that once again he values fossil fuel interests over people. One thing is clear to us: Governor Sununu does not speak for our state.
“Environmental justice is not the enemy of energy reliability or affordability,” said Rebecca Beaulieu, Communications Director for 350NH Action. “Clean, renewable energy is more reliable and more affordable now than ever before - and it’s outpacing coal and fracked gas. To claim that taking environmental justice into account will cost ratepayers more is a false narrative. Flooding and tornadoes cost much more than climate solutions.”
Governor Sununu’s statement ignored the other funding increases in this proposed budget. The ISO-NE budget included large funding increases in staff salaries, over $400,000 earmarked for lobbying, and more than $113,000 per board member for 10 hours of work per week.
The five other New England states requested the environmental justice position earlier this year in order for ISO-NE to help states achieve their climate goals. Meanwhile, Sununu continues to oppose any climate action plans submitted to the NH legislature for consideration.
“Most people in New Hampshire want to see our government take action on climate,” said Emma Shapiro-Weiss, Co-Executive Director of 350NH Action. “Governor Sununu ignores the public majority when he makes decisions about energy policy on behalf of his wealthy campaign contributors with ties to oil, gas, and utilities. He’s claiming that environmental justice policies will cost ratepayers more without weighing the real costs we face in impacts from pollution, sea level rise, and storm damage. Not taking action on climate is what is costing us.”
Taking environmental justice into account in our energy grid is essential to the wellbeing of our region. One employment position at ISO-NE alone is a good step towards community health and safety in the future, but that one position is not enough. Elected officials need to start listening to everyday people who are tired of fossil fuel pollution, high energy bills, millionaire utility CEOs, and politicians who make excuses for fossil fuels. Environmental justice is not “expensive social policy;” environmental justice is the future we deserve.
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