The House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee heard HB 1289 last week, a bill that creates a commission to study the transition of the coal plant in Bow to clean energy. Now is the time to make sure that the transition of this coal plant is done intentionally with the community in and around Bow instead of behind closed doors. As a member of the public I have been involved in the regulatory process, wrote letters to the editor, and attended protests to end coal burning in our state. Now, I ask the Legislature to stop ignoring this issue.

The coal plant currently contributes property taxes to the town of Bow, it emits particulate matter, and pollutes the environment. The coal plant violated its operating permits several times, and lost a crucial funding mechanism this year. We need to make sure that the coal plant owners don’t just abandon the site, and that people impacted the most by an energy facility get a voice in the decisions to be made. Clean energy is a necessary replacement because the years of coal have heavily polluted the soil, air, and water of the area. Residents need to know that this business is not going to further damage their homes and workplaces. They deserve at minimum to be a part of the transition conversation. We need to be more mindful about how we treat our neighbors and how we treat our environment and this bill is a step in the right direction.

Rebecca Beaulieu

Dover