John Gage

This bill is short-sighted, costly to NH citizens and businesses, and moves the state backwards in the effort to become less reliant on polluting, predictably more costly over time, fossil fuels. Carbon pricing is spreading worldwide, prices are rising, and CBAMS are here. The EU CBAM started this year, and now US exporters must pay the EU carbon price in trade because the US does not have a matching carbon price. Other countries' rising carbon prices and the spreading adoption of CBAMS should be a red flag to NH state leaders that the free pollution stance of the US will not last. The UK CBAM starts next year. Canada, Australia, and others are close to starting their CBAMS. Last year, 28% of global fossil fuels were under a carbon price, up from 24% the year before. The trend of carbon pricing is clear. See carboncashback.org/carbon-price-gap for details. The state of New Hampshire should recognize this trend and anticipate a future US carbon price. Responsible risk management calls for taking steps now to reduce carbon emissions, given the likelihood of an eventual global carbon price. The transition to clean energy production and energy-efficient homes and businesses takes time. Waiting until Congress puts a price on pollution before investing in the strategies and technologies that reduce dependence on fossil fuels will result in stranded costs and missed opportunities for our state. The citizens and businesses of NH deserve leaders willing to take steps to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, not leaders who represent the fossil fuel industry's interests above all else.