Why not develop more green energy?

Michael and Margaret Saracino
Claremont
To the editor,

We would like to submit an opinion about the veto of House Bill 365, net metering in New Hampshire. This legislation, originally passed by a Republican majority New Hampshire state legislature, would raise the capacity for [residential] solar production in the state, from one megawatt, to five megawatts. The governor vetoed the bill.

It is hard to imagine in this era of global climate change, that anyone would not be in favor of expanding green energy. The governor’s disposition on this may rest with the fact that according to Catherine Corkery of the New Hampshire Sierra Club, “the fossil fuel industry and utilities such as Eversource, have given more than $100,000.00 to Governor Sununu’s campaigns and his inaugural fund”.

And so it is that politics works.

My wife and I installed solar energy last autumn here in Claremont. To date, our electric bill has plummeted, and according to our electronic tracker, the energy we have produced, used, and sold back to Eversource, is the equivalent of 6,454 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions prevented, and 163 trees planted, and we have just moved into the peak production months of the year. Our average bill for our home and an attached apartment used to be $150 per month! Since February, the largest bill we have seen has been $37, with two months of no bill at all — and again, this with an exceptionally cloudy April and May, and peak production in June, July, and August ahead.

It is unthinkable that the governor would prevent people like ourselves, schools, communities, etc., from installing solar if they chose because …? He takes money from the fossil fuel industry? He likes the idea of a warmer New Hampshire? Ignorance?

Please contact your state representative, and ask them to override this veto. 

Michael and Margaret Saracino

Claremont