HB278

I am in favor of any initiative that will save the state money and draw down carbon emissions. This bill. will reduce fuel costs

The proposed legislation, HB278, is a small step towards an ‘America First’ approach to managing uncertain energy costs, increasing state government efficiency, and improving global competitiveness. Many of us would agree that our foreign competitors benefit from being able to release as much carbon as they want with little or no short-term costs. I believe that proxy carbon pricing and a national Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (BAM) are promising policy options to balance unfair trade in a global economy. These mechanisms would likely work better than the existing blunt tariff system, which also raises prices on consumer products but does not translate into new investments in energy efficiency or other benefits to the American economy. The state can anticipate the threat of higher future oil and gas prices by including a proxy measure in the procurement process of state vehicles and building heating equipment. Fossil fuel-powered options will likely become more expensive to operate in the future due to the declining price of alternative sources of energy and the highly fluctuating price of foreign energy sources. In closing, please consider the potential benefits to our economy and the balancing of our trade deficit and ‘carbon deficit’ when deciding on this policy option. Thank you.

I'm State Rep. Kat McGhee of Hillsborough 35, Hollis. I'm unable to be in Concord today but wanted to offer my testimony on HB278 a bill that seeks to require the State of New Hampshire to consider the cost of carbon in their building and transportation transactions going forward. Although the effects of carbon can be treated as an 'out of sight, out of mind' issue for many, the reality is that the externalized costs of carbon pollution are impacting our costs as a state. Carbon pollution is causing the greenhouse effect (a seal of carbon in our atmosphere that traps UV rays coming into the atmosphere from the sun, and warms that atmosphere or is aborbed by the ocean, both of which destabilize weather patterns that threaten people and property). Similar to the very dangerous Ozone layer buildup in the 70's, there is something science prescribes that we can do to help mitigate the worst outcomes of releasing more and more carbon. One of these prescriptions is to examine our purchases as a state in terms of the present and future carbon costs by adopting proxy carbon pricing of future building and vehicle fleet purchases. While this idea may be foreign to members of the legislature and even those in our state agencies, this is increasingly a practice being employed to calculate accurate costs for states/governments. It does not cost us anything to pass a bill that says when we purchase buildings or vehicles in our transportation fleet, we should examine the current and future cost of the carbon associated with that purchase. An example would be to determine the proxy carbon price of an ice vehicle vs. an EV over the life of the vehicle throughout its depreciation period. In NH this example has already been adopted by the Dept of Environmental Services when their informal evaluation resulted in them buying cheaper to operation/cleaner EVs as their small fleet as vehicles came up for replacement. Lower cost of operation results in savings for taxpayers. This bill is a good government bill because it requires us to examine the true cost of our purchases as a state and cut wasteful spending that leaves us dependent on aging and more costly technologies, as we pass the first quarter of a new century. If there are associated costs that are being left out of decision making, then we are operating on a false-economy. We owe it to taxpayers to do our best to cap their costs by investing the buildings and transportation options that have the lowest cost over the life of their operation. I hope you will see proxy carbon pricing for the smart state policy it represents. It is requiring us to understand cost impacts in state purchasing.

Blockchain is a highly innovative and important technology. However, NH already has some of the highest energy costs in the country and blockchain companies are heavily energy intensive. I am concerned that this bill could further increase already unaffordable energy prices.

We must account for the unpriced externalities in the choices before us.

New Hampshire is famous for its careful shepherding of its citizens hard-earned dollars. Shouldn't such a government try to anticipate the future energy costs of operating different types of vehicles and buildings when making such large, long-term investments? Wouldn't any well-run business? As a taxpayer, I answer yes to both questions and therefore support HB278.

I support this bill because it will save the state money now and in the future, by reducing fuel costs that largely flow out of state.

Request that this be part of the record. This bill will help state legislators learn about the growing likelihood of a federal carbon price and take pragmatic steps locally to save taxpayers money by anticipating it in the state's procurement of vehicles, energy efficiency measures, and HVAC of buildings now. This will tip the scale in favor of investing in building energy efficiency and purchasing EVs and heat pumps rather than gasoline and diesel vehicles and gas-powered boilers. Proxy carbon pricing is a fiscally sound risk management strategy that hundreds of businesses, cities across the country, and some states are already using. A secondary goal of this bill is to help inform state legislators about the best federal carbon pricing policy for NH citizens and businesses to help motivate state legislators to pass a future resolution calling on Congress to pass Carbon Fee and Dividend legislation as voters in 37 NH towns have asked via citizens' petitioned warrant article

Climate change is killing our planet. PAY ATTENTION. START HERE! Pass HB278 please,

Carbon pricing is an important and necessary means for we in NH to do our part to mitigate global warming, a phenomenon that is recognized by virtually all scientists. The legacy we want to leave our grandchildren calls on us to set ourselves up for many solutions, including carbon pricing. We know it's coming, so let's set ourselves up for the best outcome for our state and the future of the planet. Failing to work toward the implementation of carbon pricing and similar carbon reduction strategies leaves us culpable in the growing number of climate change-driven catastrophes. Please pass this bill.

Climate Change is real! We must look at all options to reduce our carbon footprint, and a responsible and equitable pricing model is a good step in that direction.

A proxy carbon price is not in a carbon tax. It is a tool that our state government agencies can use to help them make important procurement decisions. A proxy carbon price would provide important information to our state agencies about the long-term costs of their purchases; costs that would be borne by Granite Staters. HB 278 is a fiscal responsibility bill that would benefit all taxpayers in New Hampshire.

Our key trading partners, Canada and EU members, are among the many nations with a policy for including a carbon fee on their goods. A Carbon Boarder Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is already in the works - which would place a carbon fee on any goods imported to these countries, that had not already been subject to carbon pricing. With this policy the United States would be paying this carbon tariff to other countries -- unless we chose to impose a carbon fee at home, where we could give the collected fees back to U.S. households. Either way, goods will become more expensive because of a carbon fee (that is paid overseas, or remains in the U.S.) As the State of New Hampshire contemplates new procurements - for its vehicle fleets, heating systems, energy efficiency measures - the cost of this carbon price should be considered as part of the total cost of the item. It is economically prudent to consider this "proxy" carbon price for the expensive items the State obtains, with their expected longevity.

I think it is important for the legislature to be well informed on all aspects of the energy policy that would hep fight climate change. We owe it to our children.

Please OTP HB 278 it positions NH to face our future most effectively. This establishes a fiscally sound risk management strategy that hundreds of businesses, cities across the country, and some states are already using.

This is a state procurement bill. It will encourage state procurement to favor lower carbon emissions, by weighting purchasing decisions towards choices which have low lifecycle emissions. That's smart policy. Many of the items purchased will have 10-20 year lifetimes, during which there’s significant likelihood that those low-emissions choices will be rewarded and will prove prescient. It will save NH money, mean less expenditures on out-of-state fuel companies, and be good for Granite Staters’ health. I urge you to judge this bill expedient to legislate. Thanks and Regards, Wharton Sinkler Sandwich, NH

Please, let's move forward on addressing the issue of climate change by passing HB278

I believe, as a former Boy Scout, that we should be prepared, and this bill will move New Hampshire in that direction. Thank you!

HB278 will help NH legislators understand the growing likelihood of a federal carbon price and take pragmatic steps to save taxpayers money by anticipating a future carbon price in state procurement of vehicles, energy efficiency measures, and HVAC of buildings right now. Proxy carbon pricing is a fiscally sound risk management strategy that hundreds of businesses and cities across the country, and some states, are already using. Please don't let NH be left behind.

I'm 78. I have 73 years of joyful memories of enchanted days at Forest Lake and its surrounds - including the ambient aroma of clear, pure sun-warmed water. Please, don't deny this transcendent experience of nature's blessings to future generations. Thank you.

We cannot ignore climate pollution because it will cost NH residents dearly. Though the current federal administration is looking at expanding fossil fuels, the fossil fuel companies asked President Trump not to pass any legislation or executive orders encouraging more drilling because the fossil fuel companies are moving in another direction, clean technologies. Carbon pricing is happening in other countries and eventually it will come to the U.S. This bill will prepare NH for the future and save NH taxpayers money.

This concept has been studied and given high marks for being effective.

For far too long NH has been behind in moving from reliance on fossil fuels. Please support this bill, not doing so will cost taxpayers money and all residents will pay in the cost of climate change.

We need to be moving *away* from a fossil-fuel dominated energy sources. Short-sighted bills that lock us into decades of fossil-fuel dependence should be the last thing we approve.