PSNH Generation Facilities Threatened by House Bill 1238

March 28, 2012 UPDATE - NH House Bill 1238 has been tabled by a 304-19 vote today by the New Hampshire House of Representatives. IBEW 1837 thanks everyone for their support!

March 26, 2012 - This Wednesday, March 28, the New Hampshire House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that may be devastating to many members of IBEW 1837 and to the union itself.

IBEW Local 1837 is in complete agreement with PSNH in their opposition to House Bill 1238, a bill that could affect 186 jobs for our union members at generation facilities owned by the Company. These are good-paying union jobs, and many other non-union positions could also be impacted.

House Bill 1238 could force PSNH to sell off or retire PSNH fossil, hydro, or biomass generation assets. This amended bill would have far-reaching consequences for the entire state, and could impact the ability for PSNH to provide cost-effective electricity to New Hampshire electricity customers. Some of these facilities could be sold to foreign companies and others might be shut down altogether. You can read the amendment to HB 1238 by clicking here. 

IBEW 1837 members are being urged to call their State Representatives immediately to urge them to vote NO on House Bill 1238. Below are talking points they can use to help discuss the issue with them. You don’t have to be an expert on energy policy to let your elected representatives know that you oppose this bill. It’s bad for working families and bad for New Hampshire.

You can find your legislators and how to contact them by clicking here.

Today, the New Hampshire AFL-CIO officially came out in opposition to the bill. State AFL-CIO President Mark MacKenzie recognized that this is really a discussion about jobs.

“While House Bill 1238 will do nothing to lower electric rates and may actually cause them to increase, it puts at risk hundreds of good-paying jobs at generation facilities throughout the state and could have a devastating ripple effect on jobs in the surrounding communities," said President MacKenzie.

“Working families in New Hampshire need the support of their elected representatives in Concord. House Bill 1238 continues the unfortunate trend of many elected officials doing exactly the wrong thing at the wrong time for our state’s workers," MacKenzie continued. "I urge legislators on both sides of the aisle to reject House Bill 1238.”

You can find your legislators and how to contact them by clicking here.