Letter: Advance offshore wind development now – Concord Monitor

Published: 9/12/2021 7:00:14 AM

As a Granite Stater and a member of the League of Conservation Voters, I strongly urge Gov. Sununu to issue an Executive Order by Dec. 31st in support of responsibly developing offshore wind resources in the Gulf of Maine to benefit New Hampshire communities and workers and to lessen the impact of climate change. In order to advance the development of offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine, the Executive Order should include: directing New Hampshire public utilities to procure 800 MW of offshore wind (enough energy to power 400,000 homes) and a request to the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management that the Gulf Maine Task Force meet to advance the process of designating potential offshore wind lease areas.

Responsible development of offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine should include these principles: encouraging regional collaboration among the New England States, maximizing the creation of high-quality union jobs, delivering community benefits with attention to improving access for displaced workers, BIPOC workers, and low-income workers, expanding domestic manufacturing with a robust supply chain, and protecting fisheries, wildlife and New Hampshire ecosystem from potential environmental impacts. With hurricanes, droughts, wildfires and flooding happening more often and more intensely, it is more apparent than ever that climate change is here. We must do all that we can to lessen the impact of climate change. Responsibly developing offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine is one way to mitigate climate change, while also creating good-paying union jobs for Granite Staters.

Johnathan Hoogeveen

Manchester

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Letter: Advance offshore wind development now - Concord Monitor