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Wind Power Thriving in NH

Published Wednesday Dec 9, 2015

Wind power has grown exponentially in NH over the last 12 years, and now supplies enough energy to power over 37,000 homes, a new report from Environment New Hampshire Research & Policy Center reported recently. In 2014, wind turbines from across the state produced enough energy to reduce carbon pollution from 42,000 cars.
 
“Wind power here in New Hampshire is already growing steadily, reducing pollution and helping to solve the climate crisis,” says Sharon Solomon, Global Warming Solutions campaign coordinator with Environment NH. “But we need policies to provide steady support for this clean energy resource to maintain our momentum in the fight against global warming.”
 
The report, "Turning to the Wind," comes as state officials determine how to comply with the Clean Power Plan, the centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s Climate Action that sets state-by-state limits on carbon pollution from power plants and encourages clean energy development.
 
The analysis is also timed with Congress's deadline to reinstate tax incentives for clean energy. The credits, which have helped spur wind power’s growth over the last two decades, expired at the end of last year, and any measure to reinstate them must be adopted before Congress adjourns for the year on Dec. 18.
 
"This report is important since according to the New England ISO, more than 40 percent of anticipated new generation capacity in the region is expected to come from wind," says Rep. Robert Backus of Hillsborough. "Even though some wind projects in New Hampshire have proved to be controversial, we know that meeting the region's needs will require we continue to advance this fuel free and therefore non-polluting resource."
 
The report also showed that renewing tax credits for clean energy sources could spur enough wind development by 2020 to further reduce carbon pollution equal to that produced by as many as 18,000 cars. Nationwide, as much as 104.2 million tons of carbon pollution could be avoided.
 
The Concord-based Environment NH Research & Policy Center is a statewide advocacy organization.

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