Energizing New Hampshire
Mark Green
Posted September 21, 2016
New Hampshire is without oil and natural gas reserves of its own. Nuclear accounted for about 47 percent of the state’s net electricity generation last year, with natural gas supplying about 30 percent.
Click on the thumbnail for a two-page energy infographic for the Granite State.
But since that gas – as well as natural gas for home heating – must come from elsewhere, the state (and the rest of New England for that matter) is engaged in an important conversation over ensuring adequate pipeline capacity to meet home, commercial and industrial needs.
Certainly, there’s urgency in this for New Hampshire. Take electricity prices. The state’s residential consumers paid an average of 18.37 cents per Kilowatthour of electricity in February, compared to the national average of 12.15 cents/kWh. A factor in this is high demand for natural gas by homes and utilities, testing the capacity of the existing pipeline system. The remedy would be more pipeline capacity, and projects are being discussed that would help boost supplies across the Northeast.
Issues surrounding infrastructure impact New Hampshire, New England and other parts of the U.S. Infrastructure is key to spreading the benefits of our domestic natural gas abundance to all parts of the country. To sustain abundant natural gas and crude oil, the U.S. needs pro-development policies that would increase access to reserves, take a commonsense approach to regulation and expedite leasing and permitting, among other things. Page 2 of the infographic includes a chart showing the benefits of this pro-development path.
Energy is essential for virtually every aspect of our daily lives. It powers national, state and local economies, gets us to work and goes into products we rely on for health and comfort. Safe, responsible energy development here at home is linked to national security as well as Americans’ individual prosperity and liberty – in New Hampshire and all the 50 states of energy.
About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.