Governor Lynch calls on Washington to provide increased home heating assistance

Increased Federal LIHEAP Commitment Needed to Avert Winter Fuel Crisis for New Hampshire Families

 Office of the Governor Press Release July 9th, 2008

CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today joined his fellow New England Governors in calling on the federal government to increase its heating aid commitment for New England families.Gov. Lynch said New England’s Governors must work collaboratively with their respective congressional delegations in order to get a commitment from Washington for an increase in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The Governors also called for a commitment from the two presumptive nominees for president.

“The rising cost of fuel and a continuing national economic downturn is having an impact on hard-working families in New Hampshire and across New England. It is July, but already many families are concerned they will not be able to afford to heat their homes, or that they may need to choose between other essentials such as medication or food in order to stay warm this winter,” Gov. Lynch said.

“That is why we need to stand together, and send a strong message to Washington that New England needs an increased federal commitment to LIHEAP to help avert what could be a real winter fuel crisis for families,” Gov. Lynch said.

Last year, $25 million in LIHEAP assistance was distributed to 33,000 homes in New Hampshire. With the drastic increase in the cost of home heating fuel, it is expected that $50 million would be needed to provide the same amount of relief.

“But that $50 million does not take into account far greater out-of-pocket costs to cover the non-LIHEAP portion of their heating bills. We are not talking about a small increase in additional costs, we are talking about thousands of dollars in additional costs for families already struggling to pay their bills,” Gov. Lynch said.

In addition to additional LIHEAP funding, the Governors discussed a number of other common energy issues including the development of renewable energy, the promotion of energy efficiency and expanding transmission capacity.

“Increasing renewable energy will create jobs right in New England by expanding uses for wood products, in building clean power plants, and in research and development. That is one way we can help stabilize energy cost and supply for the long term,” Gov. Lynch said. “But in order to get new renewable energy to the grid New Hampshire needs upgrades to its transmission infrastructure.”

Gov. Lynch and the other New England Governors agreed to work collaboratively at strategies for upgrading the transmission infrastructure of the region.

“We have multiple renewable facilities interested in sighting projects in Northern New Hampshire. We need to get the transmission capability in place so that this new, clean, power can get to the rest of New England. This renewable energy will provide a benefit to all of New England. That is why we need to have a serious discussion about how to regionalize the cost of upgrading the transmission,” Gov. Lynch said.

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