As presented at our Annual Legislative Breakfast, please be sure to catch up on the best bills of 2012 for NH’s environment!

HB 1481 To Improve Water Quality in Great Bay and other Impaired Water Bodies

Nitrogen pollution from non-point sources has led to a degradation of the water quality in the Great Bay estuary as well as in other water bodies across the state.  One of the significant causes of such pollution is the run-off associated with nitrogen fertilizers – especially slow release fertilizers packaged for home use. This bill would ban the retail sale of certain slow release nitrogen fertilizers -  mimicking a successful effort in the Chesapeake Bay that has led to improved water quality.

HB 648 To Safeguard Property Owners’ Rights

Eminent Domain bill (Forrester/Bragdon amendment)

In 2006, the NH electorate adopted a constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking of private property by eminent domain for the purpose of a private development or use.  This bill updates the state statute governing utility access to eminent domain (RSA 371:1), making clear that when a private development by a utility is proposed, the utility does not have the right to petition the Public Utilities Commission for eminent domain.

SB 224 To Save NH Loons

Lead sinkers and jigs used in our lakes, rivers and streams have been linked to loon mortality, a threatened species in New Hampshire.  In 2000, then state representative Jeb Bradley led an effort to ban the sale and use of  lead sinkers and jigs that threatened the loon population.  This bill seeks to update the successful 2000 law by defining other lead equipment by weight to create consistency in state law and provide better protections for this endearing species.

SB 265 To Create a Definition for Stormwater

Stormwater is one of the leading causes of contamination and pollution of water in New Hampshire.  As rain water runs off houses and across roads, pollutants are carried into lakes, rivers and streams, affecting water quality.  In 2008, a commission was established to look at the problem of stormwater across the state and recommend legislative solutions to reduce its impact.  The Committee released its findings in November 2010.  The first recommendation was for the state to agree upon a definition of stormwater in statute in order to clarify and guide future state and municipal action. This bill utilizes the wording that the bipartisan commission authored and is consistent with the federal definition.

SB 215 To Optimize Review for New or Modified Power Plants
As New Hampshire continues to develop new renewable energy – as well as traditional fossil based facilities – it is essential that the committee tasked with investigating the environmental impacts have the tools they need to ensure the facilities are properly sited.  This legislation seeks to provide a modest set of technical improvements to the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Committee (“SEC”) statute. Overall, the changes are intended to enhance and optimize the SEC’s ability to carry out its vital role in rigorously reviewing proposals for new or modified energy facilities, including the Northern Pass proposal and other future projects, to determine whether they are in the public’s best interests.

SB 218 To Expand the Classes of Energy of the Renewable Portfolio Standard

New Hampshire renewable energy law, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote in 2007, called for a comprehensive review of the program in 2011.  This bill makes some of the recommended changes to the program, and includes renewable thermal energy as a component of the state’s program – a change that will utilize an important NH renewable energy source, and puts the state in the forefront of national renewable energy laws. While not perfect, this bill continues the New Hampshire tradition of including a broad stakeholder process in order to develop a program that works for everyone.

SB 252 To Increase the Term of Energy Performance Contracts

There is much energy efficiency work to do across state government as the state building stock continues to age and improvements are needed.  New Hampshire has long used Energy Performance Contracts that use cost savings from reduced energy consumption to repay the cost of installing energy conservation measures. This bill extends the length of time (from 10-20 years) allowed for these projects to pay back, creating increased flexibility in planning and allowing for a greater range of possible projects.

HB 1489 To Allocate more Money to Oil Cleanup

This bill, filed at the request of the Department of Environmental Services would make additional resources available for oil clean-ups caused by such things as defective heating oil tanks.  There is a continued demand for these funds, but over the past several years,  the monies have not been available.  This legislation would return the fund to its historic level.

SB 237 To Increase Financial Success and Efficiency of our State Parks

This bill would help the state be more efficient and reactive to the repair and maintenance of our state parks and trail networks.  With a more expeditious manner of approving repair projects, this bill enables our Department of State Parks to maintain our parks and trails in the best method possible with an eye toward tourism and a promoting healthy economy.

Join a diverse group of Granite Staters – public officials, advocates, business leaders, and the general public – and discuss the environmental priorities state lawmakers will be facing in the upcoming session. What can we agree on? What issues continue to divide us? How can we find common ground?

Our dual theme reflects the hot-button issues for the coming year, and beyond: charting our energy future and safeguarding our natural resources for future generations. One way or another, the legislative session and upcoming elections will impact our New Hampshire Advantage – why we work, live and play in the Granite State.

The 2011 breakfast was a tremendous success, with over 350 legislators, advocates, agency heads and members of the business community.  This year’s all-star line-up of speakers are leaders from our statehouse and from the business community who will highlight NH’s Clean Energy Economy and NH’s Natural Infrastructure.

As always, this event is free and open to the public and made possible by the generous support of our environmental partners, businesses, and individuals. The Grappone Center’s Chef Trish will once again prepare breakfast menu that couldn’t be more tasty, with:

• Maple ham, bacon and eggs from Canterbury
• Hand-cut oatmeal and fresh roasted coffee from Gilmanton
• Fruit juices and delicious homemade breads.

BREAKFAST PROGRAM

7:30  Doors open and breakfast is served — 8:00  Green Eggs ‘n NH Program — 9:30  Adjourn

Welcoming Remarks

Senator Jeb Bradley (R-SD 3)
Senator Sylvia Larsen (D-SD15)

Priority Issues:

• NH’s Clean Energy Economy - Charlie Niebling, General Manager, New England Wood Pellet

• NH’s Natural Infrastructure - John Harrigan, Woods, Water & Wildlife columnist, NH Union Leader

Keynote

• “The Business of the Environment: Protecting New Hampshire’s Natural & Economic Advantage” Peter Stein — Lyme Timber

In addition, there will be a BIG TICKET RAFFLE

GRAND PRIZE: Kayak and paddle from Eastern Mountain Sports

PLUS many other great items to win.

Tickets: $5 — or 3 /$10

Register now!

For more information contact: Susie Hackler at 603-228-1970 or shackler@ConservationNH.org

Thank you to our Host Committee and Sponsors:

Steve Taylor * Joel Harrington * Carmelle Druchniak * Margaret Sofio * Charlie Niebling  * Elizabeth Hager * Michele Goldsmith * Susan Arnold * Nancy Hayden * Rick Russman & Laura Thibault * Janet Nixon * Joe Keefe * Steve Walker * Nancy Grady * Roger Stephenson * Nancy & David Borden * Merle & Helen Schotanus * Burt Cohen *Connie Rakowsky & David Marshall * Sam & Eileen Hackler

“Legislators have proposed dozens of bills that weaken, and in some instances eliminate, bedrock environmental laws that are critical to our state’s economy and way of life,” said Rick Russman, former Republican State Senator and Conservation NH Board Member.  “We have identified a dozen pieces of legislation that run counter to New Hampshire’s bipartisan tradition of doing good for our economy by doing right by our environment.”

The bills identified by Conservation NH range from the dismantling of town conservation commissions to micromanaging state agencies; from making uneconomic decisions for our state parks, to undermining the state’s energy laws.

Russman continued, “We will work with the environmental community, legislators, state agencies, business leaders, and conservationists across the state to ensure that we do not allow key environmental protections to vaporize in this anti-environmental legislative climate.”

“We urge the citizens of NH to join with Conservation NH in calling on our elected officials to put an early end to the dirtiest dozen bills of 2012.”

Conservation NH will present a list of bills it supports at its annual Legislative breakfast on January 17^th at the Grappone Center in Concord at 8 am. This breakfast is the greenest political event of the year and free and open to the public. REGISTER HERE or call 603-228-1970.

2012 Dirty Dozen Legislation

HB 1512 – To Abolish Municipally Supported Land Conservation

• This bill would repeal the authority of municipal conservation commissions to acquire land for conservation purposes, as well as repeal current law that enables municipalities to put revenues from the Land Use Change Tax toward conservation funds. If passed, this bill would abolish all municipally supported land conservation in New Hampshire, with Concord mandating what has traditionally been a matter of local control – hardly a conservative position!

HB 1515 – To Upend Local Control for Land Conservation

• Echoing HB 1512, this would repeal the authority of municipalities to establish conservation funds with proceeds from the Land Use Change Tax (LUCT). If it were enacted, the State would unilaterally prohibit municipalities from deciding at the local level whether to create conservation funds with LUCT revenues. This bill is yet another example of an over-reaching nanny state trying to usurp local control in New Hampshire.

SB 217 – To Lease Cannon Mountain Absent Any Master Plan for Franconia Notch State Park

• This bill would change the name of Franconia Notch State Park to Franconia Notch Veterans’ Memorial State Park, require the Department of Resources and Economic Development to solicit bids from private entities to lease Cannon Mountain ski area, and require DRED to develop a plan for construction of a veterans’ memorial and other specific modifications at the Park. A more logical approach would be for DRED to develop a master plan for Franconia Notch State Park, fully engage the public in the development process, and ensure that the master plan addresses key issues facing the Park’s future – including its name, the potential for leasing, and specific capital improvements needed to sustain the Park and its use by the public. As introduced, this bill puts the cart before the horse.

HB 1222 – To Weaken Protection of NH’s Crown Jewels: Our Lakes

• This bill would reduce the permitting fees collected by the Department of Environmental Services under the Shoreland Water Quality Protection Act. This shortsighted bill would likely lead to further layoffs at the Department, which could undermine water quality protection in lakes across the state.

HB 514 – To Pre-empt Public Access to Un-posted Private Lands

• This bill would prohibit entry by anyone to private land for virtually any purpose without the written consent of the landowner. Among the many unintended consequences of this bill would be to undercut the ability of Fish and Game, the Department of Environmental Services, Department of Resources and Economic Development – not to mention most hunters and fisherman – from enjoying, accessing, and monitoring the health of the state’s wildlife and natural resources. Our economy would no doubt suffer as a result.

HB 1428 – To Gut the State’s Renewable Energy Law

• This bill would make major negative changes to the state’s popular and successful Renewable Energy Law. Among other things, the bill would give special treatment to nuclear energy, and would fundamentally change the rules of the game that have led more sustainable energy businesses to start up – and create jobs – right here in New Hampshire.

HB 1490 – To Repeal RGGI, Leaving NH with “All Pain and No Gain”

• This bill would repeal the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This is a repeat attempt by the House to jam through a failed anti-RGGI effort from last year that was vetoed by the Governor and sustained by the Senate. There is widespread support in New Hampshire’s business community to stay in the program. If NH gets out of RGGI, the state will still have to pay for the program, but won’t get any of its funding or benefits back.

HB 1415 – To Look the Other Way on Failed Septic Systems

• Today, if your septic system fails, your replacement system has to be checked by DES to verify that it will work better than the original one. The existing requirement, which DES just adopted in 2011, ensures that replacements for failed systems are designed by certified professionals and are installed properly.  This bill would eliminate DES’s oversight, putting New Hampshire’s lakes, rivers, and estuaries at risk.

HB 1234, HB 1435 and HB 1436 – To Micro-manage State Agencies

• These three bills would establish a “DES grievance committee” in the Legislature to micro-manage the Department of Environmental Services and the Department of Resources & Economic Development. They beg key practical, economic, and constitutional questions: Does the Legislature want to be responsible for issuing complex technical permits? Why do we hire Commissioners and agency staffs in the first place? Where is the separation between the Legislative branch and the Executive branch with these bills?

HB 1540 – To Cripple Local Land Conservation Efforts

• This bill would pull the rug out from under the very partnerships that work to conserve lands in order to maintain New Hampshire’s quality of life.  Current state law enables counties and municipalities to sell and/or give conservation easements to non-profit organizations like land trusts.  This bill, if passed, would halt all such conveyances.  It would purposely obstruct land conservation at the local and regional levels.  What problem is this bill trying to solve?  Do legislators really think that “Concord knows best” compared to New Hampshire’s town and county governments?

After a quick Google search and subsequent phone call, I found myself at the Henniker home of Joan O’Connor. Joan has been vermicomposting since 1992 and sells worms by the pound. “Worms are easy,” Joan instructed, as she handed me a bucket of worms. “Don’t drown them, cook them, suffocate them, or freeze them. It’s really that simple.” Looking into the bucket, I wasn’t so sure. But Joan’s confidence in me was enough encouragement to at least give them a try…

[View with PicLens]

A 24 inch long by 24 inch wide by 8 to 16 inch deep plastic box is suitable for approximately 3.5 pounds of food scraps per week. My box is nothing fancy, just a plastic Sterilite stacker tote. I cut two large ventilation panels out of the lid and covered them with screen to keep would be escape artists in; and fruit flies, rodents, and an overly curious Jack Russell terrier out. I also cut two, 1 inch holes (also screened) into the bottom of the box for drainage. I used organic peat moss and newspapers to make bedding. I tore the newspaper into half inch wide shreds, moistened them with water, and made a 2 inch thick layer with them on the bottom of the box. Next, I added a 2 inch thick layer of peat moss. I also moistened the peat moss, because it had become dry and friable. Next, I added the worms. On top of the worms, I added a 1 inch thick layer of organic peat, followed by a 1 inch think layer of moistened newspaper. I keep a layer of dry paper on the very top.

My worms eat vegetables, fruit, and tea/coffee grounds. To feed them, I bury the food scraps in their bedding. I follow a grid pattern as I do so. By the time I return to the first spot in the grid, most of the food scraps are gone. If not, I give the worms more time to break them down before adding more. On the “do not” feed list: meat, citrus, bones, salt, vinegar, cooking oils, and dairy products. These are difficult for the worms to break down, as are onions and cabbage. I chop up food scraps or run them through a food processor. Otherwise, worms are low maintenance. Once in a while I spritz the bedding with water to keep it moist. When “worm tea” collects in a pan under the drainage holes, I dilute it (10 parts water to 1 part tea) and feed it to houseplants. So long as I keep food scraps buried below the surface of the bedding, there are no odors or fruit flies. The worms appear to be most productive at temperatures between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I keep the worm box in my study and visitors have no idea the worms are even there.

Once the newspaper has disappeared, it’s time to separate the worms from the humus. I haven’t done this yet although it sounds like a fairly straight forward process: Dump the contents of the worm box into a number of piles on a plastic sheet in the sun or a well-light area (the worms will crawl away from the light and into the center of each pile); after placing the worm dirt in a bucket, put the balls of worms back into their box along with fresh bedding. According to Joan, most worm boxes require changing twice a year. I am looking forward to my first bucket of worm dirt, or “black gold,” as it is often called. Rather, my houseplants are.

Joan is the founder of the Tilton Winter Farmer’s Market, and be will selling worms there this coming January, February, and March. Her worms can also be purchased at Bonafide Green Goods in Concord.

Tilton Winter Farmers’ Market

www.tiltonwinterfarmersmarket.com

Joan O’Connor’s website

www.joansworms.com

Note: the Concord Monitor uses recycled paper and non-toxic, soy-based ink

Close to 100 policy makers, environmental advocates, business leaders and other friends enjoyed local cider and a variety of beer from Smuttynose along with delicious offerings prepared by the Concord Cooperative Market.  How many events feature a travelling wood-fired pizza oven? The Rustic Crust pizza truck sat right ouside  the barn door, serving up flatbreads all evening long (thanks, Rustic Crust!).  A special thanks goes out to the gang at the Coop: Chef Mike, Chef John, Kevin and Shane!  The corn bar with the crazy rubs, tasty beef kabobs from Miles Smith Farm, all of that delicious cheese from Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery, and Shaun serving up flatbreads from the 900-degree pizza oven kept us happy and “kabobby” all evening long!

The music was literally thumping, swinging and singing from the rafters thanks to the Bradford Bog People’s snappy fiddle and banjo music played from the barn loft above the party.

As with all Conservation NH events, we were successful in bringing together a diverse cross-section of the state’s conservation, business and political community to network and support keeping the conservation of our natural resources a top priority for decision makers in New Hampshire.

We were joined by Senators Bob Odell and Amanda Merrill, each of whom spoke of how NH’s environment is not an issue for only Democrats or Republicans – but for all of us. Our quality of  life is the reason we live in this state, and it’s a way of life maintained and protected by policy makers committed to protecting our natural resources and our great outdoors! Thanks to Senators Odell and Merrill for their A+ scorecards on behalf of NH’s environment!

To add to the tempo of the program, we were also joined by two film students from Southern NH University, Scott Chamberlain and Connor Bodell, who took over 60 hours of filming/editing to create a remarkable video short about this great event and why our work at Conservation NH is so unique and important in NH.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Lastly and most importantly for us, we had a great showing from the board of Conservation NH. Our fearless and energetic leader, Liz Hager, took the opportunity to announce that we reached our fundraising goal of $25K. So many thanks to all of you who attended and made that goal possible and gave us another reason to celebrate! And a particular thank you to those of you (you know who you are) who blew the roof off our fundraising goal with a generous donation.

Bravo and cheers to another Harvest Party next year! The response was overwhelming, as we came together after busy summers to celebrate our local bounty and all the reasons we live in New Hampshire. It was truly a celebration worthy of raising a glass to.  
In fact, many of you weren’t ready to leave, even at 8 pm. Next year, we may work in an after-party with square dancing. Stay tuned!

Be sure to check out our photo gallery of this fun event (courtesy of Mike O’Meara’s stellar photography).

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150307175319262.350239.173569349261

Last spring, the Legislature passed a bill which would have removed New Hampshire from the 10-state compact.  In July, Governor Lynch vetoed that bill.  Today, the New Hampshire Senate upheld that veto.

“Conservation NH applauds this bipartisan group for listening to leading New Hampshire businesses, conservation organizations and economists, and for re-affirming that RGGI is in the best economic interest of the state,” stated Conservation NH Board Chair Elizabeth Hager.  More than $26 million in RGGI revenue has been invested in creating jobs and reducing costs for New Hampshire families, businesses and local governments.  “Instead of succumbing to out-of-state special interests, these senators have put New Hampshire’s interests first.”  Hager said.

Voting to uphold the Governor’s veto were: Senate President Bragdon, Minority Leader Larsen, and Senators D’Allesandro, Houde, Kelly, Lambert, Merrill, Odell, and Stiles.

Conservation NH’s founding Executive Director leaves an organization recognized in the New Hampshire Statehouse as a leading voice for the protection of New Hampshire’s environment.  Recently named Director of Government Relations by the New Hampshire Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Jim O’Brien takes leave next month of an organization recognized and respected by legislators and the business and environmental communities as a “go to organization” on environmental policy and statehouse politics.

Well-publicized efforts by O’Brien to organize New Hampshire’s myriad environmental groups and businesses in support of the state’s continued participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and other high-profile campaigns during the past five-years have strengthened CNH’s position as a moderate policy voice and “convener” of the state’s environmental community.

That work will continue and only get better, says CNH board member Ken Colburn.

New directors have added depth and range to the governing board, and fundraising efforts will support a broad range of activities and continue to raise the profile of a group that began only five years ago with O’Brien as its sole staffer.

“Our goal remains preserving New Hampshire’s economy and quality of life by making environmental protection a priority for our elected officials,” says Colburn. “Thanks to Jim’s work and others’ efforts, we’ve also earned the reputation as a non-partisan group known for quietly, yet effectively tackling some very challenging issues, like RGGI.”

Board member Elizabeth Hager also credits O’Brien with enhancing the group’s reputation over the past five years.

“Under Jim’s leadership, Conservation New Hampshire has evolved from a start-up organization working with other environmental groups to keep ‘green’ issues at the forefront during election cycles to being a full partner on important policy issues like conservation funding, shore land protection, and supporting natural resource agencies through difficult budgeting times.”

She adds: “Because of his understanding of the issues and political background, Jim has become a real asset to the state’s environmental community.  We are pleased that he will continue to be active on the important conservation issues facing our state.”

The reason for the veto has nothing to do with the intent of the original bill which will make some positive reforms to the existing state law.

Then why advocate that Governor Lynch veto a bill that conservation organizations, homeowners and businesses support?  Well, a funny thing happened to SB 154 on its way to the Governor’s desk.  The story of SB 154 is a perfect example of how environmental politics worked (or didn’t work) this session and a real education in the New Hampshire legislative process.

The Shoreland Protection Act, signed into law in 1991, provides protections for the state’s larger water bodies.  The Act has been instrumental in ensuring that New Hampshire has healthy and clean water for both drinking and recreation.  Over the years,there has been complaints that the regulations are too costly and cumbersome for homeowners and developers, and reforms are needed.

Some in the Legislature have been making plans to drastically alter the Shoreland Protection law well before last falls election.  In fact, when the House Republican Majority released their legislative priorities at the start of the session, repealing the State’s Shoreland Protection Act was listed under the heading harmful to our “quality of life.” Funny that safe and clean water is seen as being harmful to NH!

While the House debated a bill to repeal the law in the spring, the State Senate had a different idea.  Led by Senator Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), the Senate worked with advocates, homeowners and business interests to make changes to the current law, while preserving the necessary environmental protections.  The Senate passed their bill, SB 154, over to the House.

Eventually, the House Resources, Recreation and Development Committee retained their repeal bill and focused their attention on working with Senator Bradley on reforming the Act. Finally it seemed, all sides were in agreement – homeowners, conservation groups, policy makers and business owners – on the suggested changes to the law.

As with all legislation in NH that affects the general fund, SB 154 eventually made its way to the House Finance Committee, where -you guessed it –  a curve ball was thrown.

The House Finance Committee decided to amend the Shoreland Protection legislation with a repeal of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

That doesn’t make sense, right? One has no bearing on the other.  Unfortunately, this is politics in Concord, and here is where this story gets complicated and very political.

The House had passed a RGGI repeal bill that the Senate rejected.  The Senate chose to reform RGGI rather than repeal the state’s cap and trade program (beginning to see a trend here in the positions of the House vs Senate?  reform rather than repeal) – a move that House leadership didn’t like, and a move that they vowed to fight.  So, the House chose to play politics with a bill that they thought the Senate would want to pass – putting New Hampshire’s water quality at risk.

In response, the Senate did two things.  First, they attached the language of the agreed upon version of the Shoreland Protection Act into HB 2, otherwise know as the state budget.  The Senate on a 14-9 vote then concurred, or agreed with the House changes to SB 154 (with the RGGI repeal).

By agreeing to the House changes to SB 154, members of the Senate felt comfortable that the Governor would veto any bill that would repeal RGGI.  With the changes to Shoreland Protection added to the budget bill, it seemed that both RGGI and Shoreland Protection were safe and the Senate would sustain the Governor’s eventual veto of SB 154.

SB 154 then sat on Speaker Bill’s O’Brien’s desk as the House and Senate negotiated the budget. By not signing the bill, O’Brien ensured that it would not make its way to the Governor for veto until he felt it was the right time.

As the budget debate went into its final days and nights, the House negotiators refused to go along with the Shoreland Protection language the Senate inserted into HB 2 and it was pulled.  The status of the changes to Shoreland Protection, as well as the repeal of RGGI, were once again back on the table.

When it looked like the two sides had finally reached an agreement on the state budget, the House conferees suddenly refused to go along unless the cigarette tax was decreased by 10 cents (O’Brien argued that this decrease would increase tourism!). So, the two sides continued to negotiate into the final day.

While we do not know what went on behind closed doors, when an agreement was announced , Shoreland Protection was back in the budget, as was the cigarette tax decrease.  Clean water traded for cheaper tobacco.

All this political wrangling brings us back to the original Senate Bill with the RGGI repeal language tacked onto it.

That bill – SB 154 -has sat on the House Speaker’s desk waiting for O’Brien to sign it so it can go onto the Governor for his veto pen. This finally occurred on June 30th, and now – finally – we are calling on the Governor to veto Shoreland Protection to better protect New Hampshire environment.  Doing so will keep New Hampshire in RGGI, and with the negotiated budget bill – our water will continue to be protected.

Nothing in Concord has been easy this year!

The boat is scheduled to depart by seven for a cruise around Portsmouth Harbor and the Piscataqua River. There will be a wine and cheese tasting, giveaways, drink specials, a raffle, and a Green Alliance Membership is included with your ticket purchase.  Music will be provided by WXGR 101.5 FM and can be heard on all 3 decks as we cruise through Portsmouth passing by lighthouses, the Naval Prison, Fort Constitution and more!

This a great chance to network with local green businesses, and learn more about the work of Conservation NH –  so don’t miss it!

Friends of Conservation NH can attend the harbor cruise for $25!  The price of the ticket includes a one year “Green Card” membership which will give you discounts to hundreds of local area businesses!

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity!  To register, please e-mail Susie Hackler at shackler@conservationnh.org or call us at 603.228.1970

Thursday – July 28

315 Market Street Portsmouth

Boarding Starts at: 06:30 PM

For more information, please call  Conservation NH at 603.228.1970

For the third consecutive year, St. Mary’s Bank made a $1,000 donation to a local environmental organization on behalf of members who elected to receive bank statements electronically.  The credit union donated $2 to Conservation NH for each of the first 500 members who made the switch.

“Switching to electronic statements not only saves paper, but also time and money for both members and St. Mary’s Bank,” said Elizabeth Stodolski, St. Mary’s Bank Director of Marketing. “Printing and mailing costs add up.  The fewer resources we use to process statements, the more savings we can pass on to members.”

“We greatly appreciate this generous donation,” said Susie Hackler, Director of Development, Conservation New Hampshire. “Going paperless has a real impact on the environment, but it’s not always easy to see how what you’re doing makes a difference.  St. Mary’s Bank’s campaign helped people make that connection and prompted them to take action.”

About St. Mary’s Bank

Founded in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1908, St. Mary’s Bank is the nation’s first credit union.  As a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union, St. Mary’s Bank makes progressive financial products and services available and affordable to consumers and businesses. Members enjoy excellent service, competitive rates, low fees and state-of-the-art banking services.  Headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, St. Mary’s Bank has branches in Manchester, Hudson, Londonderry, Milford and Nashua. Call 1-888-786-2791 or visitwww.stmarysbank.com for more information.