NHCIBOR calls for more energy sources to lower costs

Seeks ‘development of all feasible sources available to us’

The NH Commercial Investment Board of Realtors has added its voice to the call for further development of energy sources in the Granite State.

In a statement released Tuesday by the organization, the organization said that the state’s energy costs “are so much higher than other parts of the country” and that puts New Hampshire “at a major competitive disadvantage when it comes to recruiting, growing and retaining businesses.”

In particular, NHCIBOR said, the energy picture hits manufacturing companies. “As an example, Sig Sauer just recently announced plans regarding their next plant. Instead of following the dramatic growth plans we have seen them experience in New Hampshire (their first choice), they have announced plans to build their next new 70,000 SF plant in Arkansas because their energy costs would be less than half … with over a $1 million savings annually from energy alone.”

According to the statement, “it is only through development of all the feasible sources available to us can we expect to have a substantial impact on the negative influence that energy costs have on businesses here in New Hampshire.”

While NHCIBOR added that the fixing New Hampshire’s energy situation is “complicated” and “there is no one single solution,” the organization called for investments “in many forms of energy that are economically feasible and available to us. These forms include natural gas, hydro-electric and renewable resources, in addition to some renewed attention to energy conservation in general.”

The organization said that “it is only through development of all the feasible sources available to us can we expect to have a substantial impact on the negative influence that energy costs have on businesses here in New Hampshire. We encourage the governor and his new administration to take the lead in championing reduced energy costs here in New Hampshire and we ask the legislature and the public at large to support the governor in this effort.”