Food, Heat or Medicine?

By Senator Kathy Sgambati

Food, heat or medicine? By all indications, we have a growing number of families and elderly people who will be asking themselves this question as winter approaches.

Several of us in the state Senate have held meetings with our local welfare officers and social service agencies to get a sense of the scope of the crisis we face this winter. As state leaders, we are doing everything we can to prepare and to find ways for aid to be efficiently and effectively delivered to those in need.

But no one expects the energy crisis to evaporate or for oil costs to fall back to the levels of prior years -- which makes energy efficiency and alternative energy that much more critical to our future.

Two major pieces of legislation passed in the last two years have the potential to provide homeowners with some relief over the long term when it comes to energy costs. We are seeking to stimulate the development of alternative energy and to provide much-needed funds to reduce our overall energy use. These initiatives are now more important than ever.

New England has an older housing stock, and drafty old houses waste energy. Improving insulation and other weatherization efforts become essential to make our heating dollars go farther. Few low income people have the resources to invest in making their homes more energy efficient but we waste both charitable contributions and our tax dollars when we fail to address those needs.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, passed this year, limits the emissions that contribute to global warming. But the program also will raise millions of dollars for conservation and energy efficiency in New Hampshire. Homeowners and businesses will be able to tap into this fund for projects that reduce their costs for heat and electricity by improving efficiency or drawing on cheaper renewable sources.

The Renewable Energy Act, passed last year, requires utilities to seek out renewable energy to provide a growing portion of New Hampshire’s electricity. If utilities fail to hit the mark, they pay into a fund that also will be available to certain residential customers who find ways to generate their own energy, for example by installing solar panels. The goal is to provide for a $3 per watt payment reduction for customers under certain circumstances.

Neither of these programs is fully in place as of today. The state Public Utilities Commission must establish rules and application procedures so we know the money is going to appropriate and worthwhile projects. It will likely be well into 2009 before these programs are ready to launch and can begin to show results.

So state leaders and our congressional delegation are right to fight for additional federal heating aid for this winter. We’re right to fight for more federal weatherization money so we can reduce home heating costs. But we’ve taken some smart steps to prepare for the future as well.

Not only did this Legislature make funds available in the near future for more homeowners and businesses to reduce their energy use, we’re stimulating New Hampshire’s economy by creating incentives for developing renewable energy. We’re encouraging new jobs in energy conservation and alternative fuels. These jobs will make it possible for more New Hampshire citizens to afford to heat their homes, feed their families and pay for their medical needs.

This winter, however, many people face troubled times. The number of eligible families receiving food stamps has swelled even as food stamp allotments fail to keep pace with rising prices. Food banks around the state are struggling to stay stocked.

So while I’m optimistic about New Hampshire’s future when it comes to energy, I’ll add my voice to those of others. Many people need help right now and many more will need help this winter. You can help by setting up neighborhood watches to check on your neighbors this winter, especially the elderly. And if you can, please donate to your local food bank