For anyone watching House Science, Technology & Energy Committee meetings in recent weeks thanks to Zoom, it’s been a tough show to watch. Rep. Michael Vose, the chair, and Rep Michael Harrington, the wing man, appear to be intent on pushing through bad energy bills that would take NH backward in terms of combatting climate change. They’re also working to kill good energy bills.

Neither Rep speaks about the science of climate change, and the urgency of addressing it – other than to mock this. They don’t talk about green jobs, and cost savings to towns, homeowners, businesses that come from clean energy over time. Their constant theme is keeping costs for ratepayers down. And they speak frequently about “liberty”, which seems especially odd on a science committee.

Rep. Harrington is on the advisory board of the New England Ratepayers Association. Numerous fossil fuel organizations have supported NERA petitions that oppose net metering, energy efficiency programs, renewable energy standards, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Reps. Harrington and Vose got A ratings, and have received thousands of dollars in funding from Americans for Prosperity, which is well known for opposing legislation that addresses climate change. They’re also consistently endorsed by the NH Liberty Alliance, in part because of their pro-liberty, anti-climate change votes in the NH House.

If after reading this, you’re as concerned as me about the hijacking of the STE Committee, please tune in – and make your feelings known about the bad bills, and the good bills.