FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2008

Contact: Rep. Naida Kaen, (603) 271-3396

Chair, House Science, Technology and Energy Committee

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE VOTES TO ADDRESS

GLOBAL WARMING

CONCORD –A bill passed by the New Hampshire House today would address the causes of global warming by entering NH into a regional “cap and trade” system for carbon dioxide emissions.

RGGI, the “Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,” is an agreement among ten states to establish a flexible, market-based cap and trade program to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the region’s power plants. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which contributes significantly to global warming.

“If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, by late in the century the Northeast may see the winter snow season cut in half, sea-level rise up to nearly three feet, and more than 60 days with temperatures over 90°F in most cities,” said Rep. Naida Kaen (D-Lee), Chair of the House Science, Technology and Energy Committee. “This will affect many aspects of New Hampshire’s economy, including the forest industry and tourism, and create significant infrastructure costs for cities and towns.”

This is a modest initial step at reducing carbon dioxide emissions associated with climate change in the electricity generation sector, and would create a predicted 17 percent emission reduction from “business as usual.” RGGI is also a leadership action, which, along with other similar regional initiatives in the Midwest and West, will move a federal carbon dioxide trading program forward.