Christopher Morgan | Oppose HB219

History has shown that relying on one energy source leads to disruption in the overall economy and financial hardship for consumers, from the oil embargo of the 1970s to recent spikes in natural gas prices. It would be foolish to ignore these lessons and legislatively mandate a reliance on fossil fuels. We need a balanced energy portfolio that includes renewable sources. Turning our back on renewable energy sources will have a severe negative impact on New Hampshire's economy by guaranteeing that we are reliant on volatile pricing for natural gas and oil. Consumers will pay more for energy and businesses and jobs will go to other states that support a diverse energy portfolio. Many communities have pursued renewable energy projects that help property taxpayers by reducing operating costs. It would be a grave mistake to step away from the renewable energy portfolio standards that encourage and assist these projects. Climate change is real, whether we like it or not, and the longer we delay reducing our fossil fuel use, the more serious the effects will be for future generations.