New Hampshire Regulates CO2 from Power Plants

Generally not known for regulatory zeal, New Hampshire has become the

first state to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. On May 9, Gov. Jeanne Shaheen signed into law House Bill 284 (the “Clean Power Act”), establishing limits for carbon dioxide—along with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury—emitted by existing fossil-fuel-fired electric power plants. To meet requirements of the Clean Power Act, New Hampshire Public Service Company, owner of the state’s three fossil-fuel power plants, must either install new technology to reduce emissions or purchase emissions credits from other power plants that have already reduced their pollution—or use a combination of the two strategies. The legislation includes incentives for utilities to make their pollution reductions either in the state or nearby—so that New Hampshire residents will benefit from the pollution reductions.