SUNUNU SUPPORTS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS IN NEWPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                          CONTACT: BARBARA RILEY

8/8/08                                                          202-224-2841

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SUNUNU SUPPORTS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS IN NEWPORT

Tours Newport Mills hydroelectric facility, discusses renewable energy project

NEWPORT, NH – United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH) today (8/8) highlighted the need for renewable energy sources and his endorsement for lifting the ban on offshore energy production following a tour of Newport Mills, including the facility’s on-site hydroelectric plant.

        “Hydroelectric plants like the one at Newport Mills provide New Hampshire with a balanced, diverse network for power production. Moreover, the wood fired system proposed at the Mills would produce even more clean, renewable, power in an environmentally sound way,” said Sununu. “But with record high fuel prices, America needs a balanced approach to comprehensive energy reform. That plan needs to invest in renewable, alternative energy sources, focus on conservation, increase domestic and offshore energy production in an environmentally safe way, improve regulation of energy markets, and double LIHEAP funding for New Hampshire families. Increasing our independence from foreign oil imports through these steps will provide the relief that consumers across the country need and deserve.”

“I am very pleased to have Senator Sununu here in Newport  to tour Newport Mills to view our proposed project for the generation of heat and electricity using the 100% renewable resources of wood chips and hydropower,” said Bill Ruger, Jr., owner of Newport Mills, who like Senator Sununu, is a mechanical engineer. “Senator Sununu fully understands the vital, importance of furthering the use of renewable, locally produced, energy in the Granite State.”

        The Newport Mills complex, located at 169 Sunapee Street, is an 89,000 square-foot structure built in 1848 around a pre-existing mill on the Sugar River. The operation of the mill’s hydroelectric plant sells power to the local utility. Plans for biomass wood gasification technology call for burning biomass (wood) and producing steam into electricity that is then sold to the local utility. Exhaust steam from the steam engine would be used to heat the mill.

        Senator Sununu continues to support additional components of a balanced energy policy:

·        On December 13, 2007, Sununu supported Senate passage of the 2007 bi-partisan Energy Bill, which increased fuel economy standards for the first time in 32 years and encouraged investment in renewable energy technology. Under the bill, the average mileage standards will increase to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

·       Sununu is a cosponsor of the “Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act” that extends clean energy production tax credits and incentives to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing homes, businesses and appliances. The legislation included Sununu's provision to provide a 10 percent tax credit for the purchase of energy-efficient wood pellet stoves and passed the Senate by a vote of 88 to 8 on April 10, 2008.

·       Sununu is co-sponsor of the “Gasoline Price Reduction Act of 2008” which would allow additional deep-sea energy exploration and Western oil shale production. The bill also encourages development of plug-in electric cars and trucks and strengthens oversight of the energy futures market.

·       On June 24, 2008, Sununu cosponsored Senator Bernie Sanders’ “Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act” to provide an additional $2.53 billion to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP.  On July 24, 2008, he cosponsored Senator Judd Gregg’s “Weatherization, Assistance, and Relief for Middle-Income Households Act of 2008” (WARM Act)  to double LIHEAP funding and provide weatherization funding and a heating oil tax credit for middle income households. The WARM Act is paid for by eliminating tax breaks for major oil companies.