News

Courts support White Mountain National Forest Management Plan - rules against Sierra Club Forest Management Litigation. (06/06/08)

On June 6th US District Court, District of New Hampshire, ruled the US Forest Service complied with all applicable regulations when it decided to implement the Than Brook and Batchelder Brook management projects. The challenge to these projects was brought before the court by the Sierra Club, Forest Watch and The Wilderness Society. This is an important ruling as these projects were some of the first proposed under the recently (fall 2005) adopted forest-wide resources plan. The forest-wide resources plan was developed over 9-years incorporating the latest scientific research and input from NHTOA, NHTOA members and thousands of other NH individuals and conservation and environmental groups. NHTOA believes this decision is a validation of the forest-wide resources plan and all the time and energy that went into developing it by the local communities and NH citizens. To see a copy of the decision and other recent articles:

Court's full decision: Click Here.

Senator Judd Gregg's Floor Statement: Click Here.

Article in the Concord Monitor, By DAVID TIRRELL-WYSOCKI
The Associated Press: Click Here.

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PSNH Clean Air Excellence Award

by Martin Murray, PSNH

The U.S. EPA presented a Clean Air Excellence Award in the 'Community Action' category to PSNH's Northern Wood Power at Schiller Station, Portsmouth on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at Washington, DC. The EPA cited the partnership between PSNH, NH Timberland Owners Association, the Society for the Protection of NH Forests, NH Audubon and Office of the Governor that resulted in a successful clean air project. “The uniqueness of Northern Wood Power is that we tried something completely new and different and it was incredibly successful,” said John MacDonald, PSNH vice president – energy delivery and generation. “We could not have accomplished that without the support of our partners, and this award rightly recognizes that.”

Link to PSNH press release: http://tinyurl.com/55y59b

Link to US EPA press release: http://tinyurl.com/5emro8

Link to photos of NWP: http://tinyurl.com/6hf67h

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Global Lumber Products Report.

The 2008 Worldwide Lumber and Building Materials Product Lines report features 2008 current and 2009 forecast estimates on the sales of lumber and building materials product lines for the 15 retail industries. For more information please click here:

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NHTOA in the Media

Robert Frost Tree Story Continued. http://www.derrynews.com/local/local_story_155135133.html

Alverine High School - From the Nashua Telegraph http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080602/COLUMNISTS14/663942293

French & Smith: Protecting NH's Forests with a National Plan to Cut Carbon Emissions - From the Union Leader: http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?articleId=8a70cd46-afc5-4b94-942d-dcfdc270ddc9 or lhttp://www.repamerica.org/opinions/op-eds/114.html

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Petroleum Storage Fees - SENT TO COMMITTEE
Quick information: HB 1594 If passed would start charge a storage fees to businesses who store diesel fuel to pay for hazardous material response teams.

The problem: With diesel fuel over $4.25 per gallon the NH state government is looking to tax those who are trying to lower their fuel costs by purchasing it in bulk and storing it for later use.

The update: NHTOA has been lobbying to kill this bill. Last week it passed the Senate Energy Committee with an amendment stripping out the fees and reporting requirements. The amended version does keep a study commission to look for alternative ways to fund the hazardous materials response teams. In the meantime the hazardous materials teams will be funded through existing revenue at the NH Department of Safety. The full Senate is to vote on this Thursday.

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HB 1442 View Assessment on Farm and Forest Buildings - Click here for Bill Text - SENT TO COMMITTEE

On Friday (04/18/08) the NH Senate Public and Municipal Affairs Committee took additional testimony on House Bill 1442. HB 1442 will provide Towns and owners of agricultural structures a mechanism for tax relief. HB 1442 came about after a number of citizens were shocked to learn their agricultural buildings were being assessed higher because the building had a view or water-front access.

This bill grants municipalities the option to allow:

1. The land under farm structures to be taxed at 10% of full value.
2. Farm buildings used exclusively for farm purposes to be assessed for no more than their replacement costs less depreciation.
   

NHTOA SUPPORTS HB 1442 and its effort to provide reasonable taxation on the farm and forestry buildings supporting NH’s working lands.

In a time of increasing land management costs and development pressure on NH’s working farms and forests it is essential the General Court and Governor provide a reasonable tax structure for the buildings and structures supporting NH’s greatest asset – open space. NH’s working farms and forests generate BILLIONS of dollars in economic activity for NH’s citizens through the timber, crops and livestock it grows and this asset also supports the state’s largest industry - Tourism

http://www4.egov.nh.gov/governor/goveforms/comments.asp

Contact your NH Senators

1442 Petition Please print and sign

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Farmers Reduce Energy Costs with USDA Rural Development Grant and Loan Guarantee Funds
By Lyn Millhiser, USDA RD Rural Energy Coordinator

Farm energy costs run high, and USDA Rural Development can help reduce energy costs and consumption through its Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency funding program.  Not only is energy conservation and renewable energy production good for the environment, it saves farmers money.  If you own a farm business and would like to reduce your energy costs, call USDA Rural Development today.  In Fiscal year 2007, 345 energy projects in 37 states across the USA were selected to receive a total of $18.2 million from this program.  Projects funded to date include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and efficiency.

Thirty Vermont and New Hampshire agricultural producers and rural small businesses received nearly $4.2 million in grant and guaranteed loan funds from the energy program in the last two years.  Many of these energy projects will repay the capital investment through energy cost savings in just a few years.  

Numerous Vermont and New Hampshire farmers have received grant and loan guarantee funding from the Renewable Energy program to construct and install wood biomass systems, solar PV systems, and manure-to-methane anaerobic digester systems that produce heat and/or electricity on the farm; and many maple sugar makers have received grant and loan guarantee funding from the Energy Efficiency program to purchase and install reverse osmosis or steam away equipment at their maple sugar making operations to reduce their annual fuel use by up to 75%. 

Middleton Building Supply in Middleton, New Hampshire received a $460,943 renewable energy grant to construct and install a 600hp wood boiler system with 600kW steam turbines to co-generate heat and electricity for a sawmill/lumber operation, utilizing 45 tons of waste wood fiber from the sawmill operation to replace 441,000 gallons of #2 fuel oil.  3,405,676 kWh electricity will be generated annually for use in the sawmill operations, with a total generation capacity of 5.1 million kWh annually.  Total project costs of $1,843,773 with net annual energy displacement savings of $958,956 equate to a less than 2 year simple payback.

In nearby Vermont, Branon’s West View Maples operation in Fairfield, received an $18,325 grant and an $18,325 loan guarantee to purchase and install a Springtech Elite 4000 gph reverse osmosis machine with 8 membranes.  Total project costs of $73,300 with annual energy savings of 6,731 gallons oil saved or 61% over current use, equal savings of $15,756 annually and equate to a less than 5 year simple payback.

Scott Farm, Inc. in Dummerston, Vermont received a $15,056 renewable energy grant and a $15,057 loan guarantee to install a Garn WHS2000 wood boiler and a 3.6kW solar PV system to energize an historic apple packing facility.  The systems will provide 100% of the thermal and electricity needed for the apple packing facility, previously without energy, and will generate a total 701.9 million BTUs annually.  Total project costs of $60,226 with $6,130 energy savings if buying electricity and oil instead, equate to a 10 year simple payback.

Neighborhood Energy, LLC and also known as the Maxwell Farm in Newport, Vermont, received a $357,988 grant and a $326,767 loan guarantee to construct a 225kW manure-to-methane anaerobic digester system that will produce 1,712,580 kWh of electricity annually to be sold to the local electric utility.  Total project costs of $1,431,950 with net income estimated to be $224,867 from electricity production and sales, bedding offset, sale of excess solids, and tax credits equate to a 6.4 year simple payback.  

“USDA Rural Development’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency program is a valuable tool in helping farm businesses reduce energy costs and increase their economic viability,” said Jolinda LaClair, State Director.

Grant and Loan Guarantee funds are available to help agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption by subsidizing energy efficiency improvements, as well as renewable energy production from wind, solar, biomass, or geothermal sources.  Grant funds up to 25% of project costs are available, capped at $500,000 for renewable energy projects and $250,000 for energy efficiency projects.  Guaranteed loans and combination funding packages are also available.  In addition to Federal funding, several local and state programs offer additional complementary funding for energy projects.

Call now!  New Hampshire farm businesses interested in learning more about the opportunity to reduce energy consumption, cut costs, and/or produce renewable energy should contact USDA Rural Development in Concord, NH at 603-223-6045, or visit the website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/vt.

NH Farmers Article in PDF.