The NH Senate Energy Science and technology committee unanimously voted SB 152 inexpedient to legislate on Thursday April 1st this is a huge victory in our efforts for continued construction at Merrimack Station (Bow Power plant).
Although reassuring I will not be completely comfortable that the job will continue unimpeded until this legislative session is complete. Thanks to all of you who helped, the overwhelming response from the NH Building Trades defiantly made the difference.
I will keep you posted if there are any unexpected amendments to other legislation that would potentially slow or kill the project.
  The other Bill of interest SB 179 that would allow expanded gaming in NH has been purposely tabled for now in Senate this is a deliberate attempt by the bills supporters to allow the legislature to completely hear all of the budget deficiencies, cost cutting proposals and tax proposal increases (cigarettes, rooms & meals, capital gains) before they vote against the only viable piece of legislation (expanded Gaming) that would bring significant revenue to the State of NH general coffers. We have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with the owners of Rockingham Park and are committed to help convince the legislature that this is the proper time to pass this crucial piece of legislation. Please stand by and be ready to participate when needed. Pressure from constituents has proven itself once this year with SB 152 lets do it one more time.

 
 
 
UPDATE
 
Dear Members:      
    On Thursday the house Science, Technology and Energy Committee voted 15 to 4 to recommend the full house kill HB 496. The Bill would have set $250million as the cost PSNH could spend for construction. A second bill SB 152 pending in the senate has yet to be voted on, we are expecting the full senate to vote within the next couple of weeks. We are very pleased with the committee recommendation on HB 496. Thanks to all of you who helped by showing up and contacting your representatives, your actions definitely made the difference.

Legislative Alert
 
On Friday March 13 the NH State Senate Energy Environment and Economic Development Committee will be hearing testimony on SB 152 a bill that if passed could be the demise of the Scrubber project. We must do everything possible to stop this legislation. The most effective way to stop this legislation is to have our members show up in force on the day of the hearing and show our representatives how important this project is to us and our families. I can’t emphasize enough how important this is. If you are able to attend please contact Joe Howard prior to Friday 3/13 so we can have an accurate number as to how many we can expect. The difference could be in the amount of people that we have show up on hearing day!

In response to the article published in the Union Leader on Feb. 19 2009 “Anti Scrubber Group Grows, Adds Kamen”. Gary Hirshberg and the Commercial Ratepayers Group seem to be compiling quite a list of who’s who  to battle PSNH’s effort to build a state of the art scrubbing system to finally scrub its emissions and rid our air of the toxic carbons that have been hovering over our state for over 30 years from the Bow Power Plant.
  Missing from this prestigious list however are the ratepayers who’s jobs will be lost, do to the ultimate closure of the power house if their agenda is met. Hundreds of jobs from people that live paycheck to paycheck whose probability of finding a new job comparable to the one that they currently have in today’s economy are slim to none. People that don’t own a Yogurt Plant, Investment group, Restaurant or invented the “segway”. People who are one paycheck away from unemployment checks food stamps Healthy kids Medicare or even welfare. People whom would gladly contribute through their utility bill to ensure their kids are breathing clean air and still have the most affordable energy in New England piped to their homes.

Urgent
The Bow scrubber project is in great danger of being killed by our state legislature. We must act now to make sure this project proceeds on schedule. There is formidable opposition to stop this very important project. We must ask every member, including the retirees to help stop this legislation so we can move forward.We need every member to come to the hall on 48 Airport Rd. Concord NH from 3:00pm to7:00pm on Thursday February 26th as we lobby our legislators to stop the huge effort that has been put forth to completely stop the scrubber project. It is up to us, we are still the creators of our own destiny. You must make every effort to attend. Please bring your families and friends. Let’s show our legislature that enough is enough… We need work!!!