The tasty part is at the bottom of this Concord Fishwrap piece:
Under the bill, that money would be returned to ratepayers. It comes out to a savings of roughly 16 cents per month for the average ratepayer.
So what is this about? The Big Govt people are always telling us that the new program’s cost (or higher spending in general) will only “cost” me a cuppa coffee a day. Or two. Problem is, now that we’ve had decades of Bright Ideas passed that “only cost a cuppa” a day to the point I now feel like I’m hauling a couple of tanker trucks full of coffee around – and they never stop asking (or more often, demanding, more). So, I am ABSOLUTELY in favor of a bill that if even it won’t give me a whole cup, it will finally gives me back a few sips:
The New Hampshire House voted yesterday to send all the state’s proceeds from regional cap-and-trade auctions back to ratepayers, opting not to continue investing a portion into energy efficiency projects.
And why not give it back to ratepayers? Politicians decided that they could spend our money better on their pet projects better than we would – let’s take advantage of some right thinking ones give it back to those from who it was taken.
In New Hampshire, earnings from the RGGI auctions are invested in energy efficiency programs and rebated to ratepayers.
But only to CERTAIN ratepayers – winners and losers; guess who gets to pick WHICH ratepayers (including one very well connected (and very profitable) NH yogurt maker who could have paid for “energy projects” all by its lonesome).
The House voted 201-154 yesterday to send all the auction proceeds back to ratepayers.
Thank you! But of course, the Democrats are ticked as they WANT to be able to direct your cuppa and don’t believe you’ll spend it on the things they demand you should:
“The high cost of electricity . . . is not the result of ratepayer contributions to RGGI,” said Rep. Robert Backus, a Manchester Democrat. Opponents of the bill said energy efficiency investments are important to help reduce electricity usage and lower pollution.
Try other regulations you’ve put upon us, Mr. Backus, and you and your ilk should not be determining how much electricity *I* use, period. If you want to be a Nanny, go to the outhouse and play there. Stay there, too, and just leave us alone – stop thinking and treating us like children.
“RGGI is expected to bring in roughly $18.6 million this year, according to the state Public Utilities Commission. Around $2.6 million of that would be sent to energy efficiency projects this year. Under the bill, that money would be returned to ratepayers. It comes out to a savings of roughly 16 cents per month for the average ratepayer.
The bill will next go to the Republican-controlled state Senate.
Pass it, please.
