June 29, 2015

As Star Island Corporation celebrated its centennial year this past weekend, board and staff members alike said they are proud to be taking part today in an environmental legacy that will set the stage for the next 100 years.

June 17, 2015

The concept of cap and trade was invented during the Reagan administration to reduce ozone chemical compounds, which were destroying the ozone layer. The idea was to place a cap on the pollutants and charge manufacturers whose products exceed the cap. It worked!

June 16, 2015

A warm sunny weekend just passed and blessed us who love being on the water.

It is also the return of all manner of weekend sailors. The majority are careful and considerate when navigating the Piscataqua river.

May 29, 2015

On Tuesday, oil from a waste storage container on the NOAA research vessel Hassler accidentally leaked into in Harts Cove, New Castle where the vessel is docked.

The whole response to the spill was exemplary. The quick response and coordination between the Hassler, The Coast Guard, the NH Department of Environmental Services and NH Port Authority were exceptional.

March 29, 2015

A group of state legislators in New England want to form a multi-state pact to counter increasing ocean acidity along the East Coast, a problem they believe will endanger multi-million dollar fishing industries if left unchecked.

February 20, 2015

Energy efficiency and energy independence both took a beating this week in the NH House of Representatives.

First, the House voted to defund RGGI, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. RGGI is a cap and trade program (a concept introduced by the Reagan administration) in which all New England states and New York participate. A small amount of your energy bill (21 cents a month for the average ratepayer) goes into a fund, which pays for energy efficiency projects. Most of the funds pay for municipal and school projects and low-income weatherization.

November 4, 2014

Two Democratic incumbent state representatives were returned to their seats in District 24, serving the towns of New Castle and Rye.

David Borden and Tom Sherman defeated Republican challengers Dan Hughes and Ray Tweedie.

November 1, 2014

As chair of NH House Science Technology and Energy Committee, I am getting lots of questions about rising electric rates.

Electricity prices have gone up because on cold winter days we have limited natural gas and residents who heat with gas have a priority.

November 1, 2014

To voters in Rye and New Castle, if you think that New Hampshire’s climate is changing and impacting how we live and do business, then cast your vote for David Borden for N.H. state representative.

October 30, 2014

In his Oct. 18 letter to the editor, Gary Terhune raised concerns about the budget, as has Mr. Tweedie in his mailings. I would like to help clarify how the New Hampshire budget works.

October 26, 2014

How many times have you heard, or said, “we need better people in the legislature” or “we need more effective leaders in the legislature”? Well residents of Rye and New Castle, here is your opportunity to have both by re-electing David Borden to the N.H. House.

October 26, 2014

RYE — With four candidates running for two seats as District 24 House Representatives for Rye and New Castle, the question is whether the two incumbent Democrats will keep their seats or be bumped out by the two Republican challengers. The district has swung back and forth between the parties the past two elections.

October 23, 2014

Those of us on the Seacoast have a unique opportunity this November — elect several excellent candidates and influence the political modus operandi in Concord.

October 23, 2014

To the Editor:

The citizens of Rye and New Castle are fortunate to be represented in the NH House by Tom Sherman and David Borden. Tom and David have worked collaboratively with other Democrats in the House to move NH forward and repair the damage caused by Bill O’Brien’s Republicans during the 2011-2012 term.

October 21, 2014

RYE — Candidates for seats in the N.H. House of Representatives, the N.H. Senate and the Executive Council talked about education, health care and energy costs, and the importance of a balanced budget at a meet the candidates night at Rye Elementary School. 

October 9, 22014

NEW CASTLE – Local fishermen concerned about the implications of offshore wind turbines, members of the public who support the concept of offshore wind in the state and other interested residents are invited to a public hearing in New Castle Oct. 14.

September 29, 2014

Lawmakers, energy developers, and policy wonks descended on downtown Concord today for the annual New Hampshire Energy summit. The event couldn’t come at a more appropriate time, last week New Hampshire electric utilities – with the notable exception of the state’s largest, Public Service of New Hampshire – announced winter rate hikes ranging from twelve to fifty percent.

August 28, 2014

The storm is over, repair crews restore broken lines, and power is restored. Or is it? What if the system itself has no electricity to deliver?

New England is dangerously close to running out of electricity when demand peaks in extremely hot or cold weather.

The immediate cause is that some large-scale New England coal plants and the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station are closing, shrinking the supply of "baseline" electricity. And no new baseline power plants are likely to come on line soon.

July 16, 2014

This is the story of just one of the 700-plus bills that came before the New Hampshire Legislature this year. It's a bill that didn't make headlines as it passed through the legislative process and that probably won't be the subject of campaign ads. But it's a bill that makes a difference — a bill that improves how state government works, saves money and supports thoughtful energy development, while safeguarding our natural, historic and aesthetic resources.

June 19, 2014

To the Editor:

Last week we registered in our respective towns of Rye and New Castle to run for re-election to the New Hampshire House of Representatives as state representatives for Rockingham County District 24.

June 16, 2014

RYE – Many may not be aware that New Hampshire is one of a handful of states that doesn't have an official state fossil.

But, third graders at Kearsarge Regional Elementary School at Bradford, are not only aware of that fact, they are working to change it.

June 12, 2014

RYE — With the filing deadline fast approaching for candidates wishing to run in this fall's election, three local incumbents have filed for another two-year seat in the state House of Representatives alongside one newcomer.

June 8, 2014

By Rep. DAVID BORDEN

This is the story of just one of the 900-plus bills that came before the New Hampshire Legislature this year.

It’s a bill that didn’t make headlines as it passed through the legislative process and that probably won’t be the subject of campaign ads. But it’s a bill that makes a difference. A bill that improves how state government works, saves money and supports thoughtful energy development, while safeguarding our natural, historic, and aesthetic resources.

March 25, 2014

CONCORD — The House wants to know if Public Service of New Hampshire should be forced to sell its fossil fuel generating facilities in order to reduce rates for its electric customers.

February 12, 2014

CONCORD — The sponsor of a bill that would expand background checks for gun purchases said Wednesday she hopes to keep her legislation alive this session, after her bill was killed on the floor of the House today by a vote of 242-118.

February 11, 2014

CONCORD — Supporters of a bill that expands background checks for gun purchases have pulled out all the stops to gain legislative approval — and it shows in the number of e-mails House members have received in the past five or six days.

February 07, 2014

CONCORD — A bill that expands background checks for gun purchases cleared a hurdle this week, when a House committee voted in favor of an amended version of the legislation.

February 01, 2014

To the Editor:

More than a year ago, municipal officials from Dover and Rochester chose to appeal a Clean Water Act permit issued for the town of Newmarket's sewage treatment plant. (That's right, Dover and Rochester spent their taxpayers' dollars litigating Newmarket's permit — a permit that Newmarket, to its great credit, did not appeal.) Last week, the Environmental Appeals Board issued a final decision roundly rejecting that appeal.

January 28, 2014

CONCORD — The National Rifle Association on Friday misinformed its New Hampshire members with regard to pending legislation aimed at expanding background checks to include private sales of firearms.

January 24, 2014 

When the thermostat reads 10 below zero and 4 inches of poorly insulated wall separates you from the bitter cold, you might consider what it takes to raise the temperature 70 or 80 degrees to keep your home or business reasonably warm. And what impact that has on everyone else.

January 12, 2014

Wage a war on wasted energy

By Rep. David Borden

Publicly assisted programs to reduce energy consumption have made a difference in New Hampshire. The School Board in Manchester invested $3 million in energy efficiency in its schools and found that $1 million was saved in the first year alone.

The town of Rye has reduced its energy costs by 25 percent with direct impact on the town budget. Thousands of residents have tightened up their homes, installed more efficient boilers or even put solar panels on roofs. Cooperatively owned manufactured housing developments in New Hampshire have reduced their energy consumption dramatically.

January 02, 2014

RYE — Seniors living in affordable housing were left in the cold for hours on New Year's Day when they discovered they had no heat.

November 28, 2013 

The elderly have rights, too. At least that’s the message Sen. Nancy Stiles wants clearly conveyed at senior living facilities across the state.

November 25, 2013

The question of whether Public Service of New Hampshire should be forced to sell its three fossil fuel-burning power plants is complex and politically charged, with interest from environmentalists and implications for the state’s electricity market.

November 19, 2013

PORTSMOUTH — Citizens for Clean and Fair Power, which is working toward the retirement of the Schiller Station power plant, is holding a forum on the issue Wednesday night in Portsmouth.

September 25, 2013

RYE — The town needs more state support to help deal with problems at the beach and along Ocean Boulevard, officials said Tuesday night at a meeting to address beach concerns.

September 01, 2013

CONCORD — As Public Service Company of New Hampshire continues to shed customers to less expensive electricity suppliers to pay for its power plants, a legislative committee has formed to investigate whether the utility should own the plants at all.

August 18, 2013

The coastal communities of New Castle, Rye and North Hampton all face significant repercussions in coming years from rising sea levels and increasing storm surges. It's a threat very much on the minds of town officials, who are beginning to plan for the future.

August 05. 2013

CONCORD — As a legislative committee prepares for its third meeting Wednesday on the future of PSNH's coal-fired power plants, the utility's owners expressed confidence that they will be able to recover costs associated with the plants even if the state orders them to be sold or shut down. If consumers end up carrying most of the costs of divestiture, the impact on rates could be significant.

July 13, 2013

Last month, just weeks after New Hampshire energy regulators recommended that Public Service of New Hampshire divest one or both of its fossil-fuel power plants in an effort to keep its electricity affordable in a marketplace rife with cheap natural gas, President Obama delivered what might have seemed a death blow for the utility’s – and state’s – largest coal-fired plant.

July 08, 2013

To the Editor: The New Castle Fourth of July Celebration Committee wishes to express its appreciation to those who supported the town's first Fourth of July parade in 83 years.

June 15, 2013

To the Editor:

This is a critical week for 58,000 citizens of New Hampshire whose jobs don't give them adequate health care. The governor and the House of Representatives want to accept Medicaid expansion money from the federal government to help them.

June 12, 2013

To the Editor:

A very disturbing report was issued on Friday regarding Public Service of New Hampshire. The report was issued by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission in response to the fact that PSNH has lost nearly all of its commercial and industrial clients to other electric suppliers. This is possible under the state's partial deregulation program.

May 05, 2013

By Rep. David Borden and Rep. John Cebrowski

New Hampshire has been nibbling at casino gambling to fund needed government services for decades. The promise of easy money is hard to pass up. And, it is also a way to deftly step around the political hot potato of pursuing an income tax or a sales tax.

May 2, 2013

New Hampshire has been nibbling at casino gambling to fund needed government services for decades. The promise of easy money is hard to pass up. And it is also a way to deftly step around the political hot potato of pursuing an income tax or a sales tax. Just as people look to Powerball and Mega Millions for the "big hit" to ease their financial pain, the state wants to gamble on gambling to satiate its revenue appetite. Yes, there will be initial localized construction jobs and low-paying casino jobs, but as far as the New Hampshire citizenry is concerned, gambling is wealth-draining. 

April 14, 2013

A bid to allow a casino in New Hampshire perhaps has the best chance to date to gain legislative approval. Gov. Maggie Hassan has led the charge for one high-end, highly regulated casino and the Senate has already passed a bill to allow one.

April 12, 2013

NEW CASTLE — Officials are hoping for a strong turnout Saturday at the 11th annual Fire Department pancake breakfast.

February 27, 2013

To the Editor:

This week, the N.H. House will vote on a bill to permit scuba divers to take lobsters from our waters. A small majority on the House Fish and Game Committee liked the idea, but the state Fish and Game Department did not.

January 08, 2013

NEW CASTLE — A veteran Granite State environmentalist is heading to Concord this session as chairman of the Legislature's Science, Technology and Energy Committee. And he said there will be plenty for his committee to tackle in the coming months.

January 06, 2013

As the New Hampshire Legislature proceeds into the first session of the 163rd General Court, in addition to the work of crafting the 2014-2015 budget, lawmakers will consider hundreds of new bills in the coming months. An estimated 799 Legislative Service Requests, requests to have bills drafted, have been filed by lawmakers.

December 20, 2012

As Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath prompt more Granite Staters to call for action to tackle global warming and the rise in extreme weather, Environment New Hampshire released a new Environment New Hampshire Research & Policy Center report that shows that New Hampshire’s current power generation from wind energy displaces as much global warming pollution as taking 9,000 cars off the road per year.

December 16, 2012

Earlier this month, four new members of the New Hampshire House took the oath of office as the body changed political control for the third time in the past four elections.

November 24, 2012

To the Editor:

Last week, Dr. Tom Sherman and I won a recount and are now representatives-elect to the N.H. House. A neighbor sent me a card saying, "You won! Please let me know when you are going to retire. I would have a heart attack if I ever had to vote for another Democrat again."

November 06, 2012

RYE — Democrats David Borden and Tom Sherman campaigned together and won together in the state representative race for Rockingham District 24.

October 31, 2012

NEW CASTLE — David Borden, state representative candidate for Rockingham County District 24, said the state needs to tap into the potential for creating jobs through investing in energy.

October 11, 2012

PORTSMOUTH — Right to Work has become a key piece of this year's Americans for Prosperity N.H. tax pledge offered to candidates for state office, from the governor to the House of Representatives. Corey Lewandowski, state director of AFP-N.H., said the organization rolled out the taxpayer pledge two years ago, the result of what he described as AFP-N.H. Honorary Chairman Tom Thomson's desire to ensure elected officials keep their word to the people they represent.

September 27, 2012

RYE — Residents of Rye and New Castle got a chance to meet their candidates for state representative and the candidates sought to differentiate themselves from their opponents during a public forum Wednesday night.

September 19, 2012

To the Editor:

The real drivers of the New Hampshire economy are the hundreds of small businesses that dot the state. At least 20 of these businesses build components for the world's wind turbines. About 200 of these businesses benefited from various incentives provided by the stimulus program and two initiatives relating to electricity. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) each took less than $1 monthly out of the average residential electric bill and converted it to incentives for renewable energy (wind, solar, water power, for example) and energy efficiency (using less energy through insulation, etc.).

August 22, 2012

NEW CASTLE — David Borden, a local Democratic candidate for state representative, will be recognized at a summit next month for his work on increasing the efficiency of the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

June 13, 2012

NEW CASTLE — Former Democratic state Rep. David Borden said he was “swept out with the tide” when he lost his seat in the Legislature in 2010.

January 30, 2012

To the Editor:

SB 372 gives businesses a tax credit against contributions to private and home school scholarships, and it is a bad bill. It is part of a number of bills under consideration in the New Hampshire Legislature that import a national movement and would dismantle public education. Don't forget that we are a state whose public education system is outperforming the rest of the nation.

November 15, 2011

NEW CASTLE — A long-standing effort by community members to ensure safer travel for pedestrians walking along a precarious portion of Route 1B in town is inching closer to reality.

September 07, 2011

To the Editor: 

Friends of the Earth, the Heartland Institute and Taxpayers for Common Sense show in their recent "Green Scissors" report how reducing federal spending by ending subsidies to polluters could go a long way toward solving our nation's budget challenges.

August 24, 2011

NEW CASTLE — Representatives from energy dealers, businesses and utilities joined former New Castle state representative David Borden and other town residents Tuesday night at a gathering to discuss the state's alternative energy future.

February 21, 2011

It's soapbox time again.

On Wednesday, the full New Hampshire House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill that would end the state's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI.

February 20, 2011

The town of Temple has used energy experts and local contractors to cut the energy bill for the town hall by 80 percent. Temple's taxpayers will benefit forever.

February 13, 2011

In a sign of the significant political shift at the State House, three Republican-backed bills filed this legislative session would repeal or significantly alter three major renewable energy initiatives the former Democratic-controlled Legislature passed beginning in 2007.

November 09, 2010

The Seacoast lost two valuable legislators to the Republican wave last Tuesday, and the Statehouse will be weaker as a result. They are David Borden of New Castle and Renny Cushing of Hampton. Both were defeated last week in their re-election bids.

November 04, 2010

RYE — Brian Murphy knows he has plenty of homework ahead of him. The newly elected Republican state representative from District 18 joins incumbent and fellow Republican Will Smith in the House, where he'll have a chance to take the pro-business, smaller government message he campaigned on to Concord. As a freshman legislator, Murphy said he plans to speak with fellow legislators and research the process well before he takes his seat as part of a 297-seat Republican majority.

October 30, 2010

The next session in New Hampshire's House of Representatives is going to be quite challenging and will require experience and knowledge to deliver best results for the state. That is why when it comes to endorsements for District 18, comprised of Rye and New Castle, we are opting for experience.

October 25, 2010

Editor's note: The following are questions asked of the four candidates in New Hampshire House District 18 for New Castle and Rye. They are competing for two open seats.

Do you believe state spending must be reduced? If yes, in which specific areas would you look to cut? If you don't think state spending should be reduced, in which areas would you fight against cuts?

October 21, 2010

RYE — Facing a wide range of questions that reflects the Legislature's current challenge, four candidates for the state House of Representatives made their cases to be elected.

October 21, 2010

NEW CASTLE — For David Borden, the key to New Hampshire's future lies in protecting its environment.

Running for a third consecutive term in the state House of Representatives, the New Castle Democrat said shoreline protection and environmental stewardship remain his top priorities.

October 20, 2010

Voting is the great American duty.

This time of year, you can’t pick up a newspaper, turn on your television or wander down the street in a politically-conscious town without being hit over the head with that message.

October 17, 2010

Have you noticed that New Hampshire state government has seemed more responsive lately? When you go to the DMV for some bit of license or registration business, there's no line! Mostly, you don't even have to go — you just do your business at your town hall or on the Web.

October 05, 2010

In August of this year, Verizon and the state came forward with a proposal to put a 110-foot fake tree cell tower at Odiorne Point State Park.

October 05, 2010

RYE — The public at a forum Monday night was supportive of a partial smoking ban at state beaches and parts of public parks, but was divided on the breadth of such a ban, and how it should be enforced. Discussion between the 15 or so participants at Rye Public Library centered on a proposal by the House Committee on Resources, Recreation and Development. It calls for smoking only in designated areas on state beaches, including Jenness and Wallis Sands in Rye and North Beach in Hampton. Signs and an educational campaign would be put in place, but no fines or other methods of enforcement are noted.

August 06, 2010

RYE — Candidates for two available District 18 seats in the state House of Representatives are ready to talk taxes.

August 06, 2010

RYE — The prospect of a 105-foot "mono-pine" cell phone tower erected just yards away from her office at the Seacoast Science Center doesn't appear to bother Wendy Lull all that much.

July 25, 2010

The cost of energy and the green jobs machine

By David Borden 

New Hampshire is scratching its collective head trying to figure how to make ends meet. More than 43,000 people are seeking employment and thousands more are underemployed or facing immanent layoffs.

State and town budgets are no better off. Demand for health care services, homeless shelters, the education of our children, road maintenance are all rising faster than our ability to pay for them. However, much of the money we need to meet the needs of our citizens is leaking out of the state each year and capturing it might help us make ends meet.

July 16, 2010

To the Editor:

As fall election time begins to creep up on summering New Hampshire residents, Rye House of Representatives Democratic candidates David Borden and Elisa Bolton are wasting no time getting down to business in their community. They gathered Monday evening to meet with local citizens to discuss their concerns.

June 30, 2010

RYE — A pair of Seacoast Democrats have officially launched campaigns for two available seats in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, District 18.

June 11, 2010

To the Editor:

The funds which have been saved from the various electricity conservation programs in New Hampshire have been spent on nearly 150 solar electricity and solar hot water projects, providing jobs for dozens of skilled installers, electricians and plumbers.

Other funds have been combined with stimulus money to help reduce energy consumption in hundreds of New Hampshire homes, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars and providing even more jobs. But the budget includes removing $3.1 million from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative fund to plug the budget gap. This is a terrible idea and the worst thing we can do in a recession is curtail funds that go directly into hiring hundreds of small-business people who are active throughout the state. Other cuts are contemplated in the LCHIP funds, which preserve buildings, land and the vaunted New Hampshire way of life.

May 17, 2010

We have come far in the past 10 years, haven't we? I think it's fair to say most people living in northern New England today recycle, have at least a working knowledge of the benefits of compact fluorescent bulbs, and are aware of their state's efforts to boost wind power.

April 25, 2010

We're deeply grateful to the Seacoast-area state representatives who joined with the majority in the House to reject a deeply flawed bill that would have allowed 17,000 slot machines at six locations, including Seabrook Greyhound Park.

March 28, 2010

By a voice vote last week, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a measure to pave the way for the state's largest utility to install a solar panel park in Manchester on a landfill.

March 25, 2010

Local reaction was mixed after the New Hampshire Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a measure to allow the state's largest utility to put up a solar panels park on a Manchester landfill, a project that's expected to create about 60 jobs.

March 04, 2010

NEW CASTLE — Tackling current and future economic challenges faced by the state and myths about New Hampshire, a public policy expert gave town residents a look at a rough short-term budgetary future.

January 19, 2010

With New Hampshire lawmakers in the third week of the second session of the 2009-2010 legislative cycle, they have begun to sort through more than 900 bills and constitutional amendment requests that have been filed.

October 07, 2009

To the Editor: Dear Sens. Gregg, Snow and Shaheen: I urge you to rise above partisan nonsense and pass a strong energy bill that:

1. Provides technical assistance and job training for energy reduction.

2. Provides seed funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

3. Provides tax incentives for research and development and energy related manufacturing.

4. Provides incentives for dramatic carbon reduction.

October 06, 2009

RYE — The Board of Selectmen held a public forum on the potential sale of state land along Route 1A to the Wentworth by the Sea Country Club on Monday after the selectmen, the fire chief and a number of residents raised concerns about safety and loss of parking if the land is sold.

August 09, 2009

What started as a conversation over coffee has turned into a town-wide effort to restore the Fort Stark state park in New Castle.

July 15, 2009

RYE — The commissioner of the state Department of Resources and Economic Development met with Rye officials Monday to ease concerns over possible changes to state parks along the Seacoast. But after nearly an hour of discussion, local officials walked away with no clear plan as to how to better maintain these parks without more state funds.

May 15, 2009

Three farm owners led state representatives, members of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau and other local farm owners Tuesday on tours of their properties in an effort to create awareness of the adversity they face.

May 13, 2009

NEW CASTLE — Residents overwhelmingly approved a warrant article to build a new combined police and fire station at this past Tuesday’s Town Meeting.

March 26, 2009

In 2006, the N.H. Legislature passed a bill requiring Public Service Co. of New Hampshire to install a scrubber to remove sulfur dioxide and 80 percent of mercury at its coal fired power plant in Bow. But the original estimated cost of the scrubber has increased from $250 to $457 million ($932 per customer).

December 18, 2008

NEW CASTLE — If the reaction on opening day is any indication, Henrys' Market will be a rousing success.

November 09, 2008

It takes a community to keep people warm

By David Borden

The state of New Hampshire has about 500,000 homes and consumes about 300 million gallons a year of home heating oil for a cost of over a billion dollars.

Dick Henry of the Jordan Institute thinks that if we spent an average of $15,000 per house, we could reduce oil consumption by 40 percent. Thus, $7.5 billion invested would save $400 million a year. How? The average home can save an easy 20 percent of oil costs by tightening up leaks, reducing hot water temperature, installing thermostat timers, outdoor heat sensors, sealing off and winterizing rooms not used during the winter.

November 06, 2008

NEW CASTLE — Due to an error in tabulating the total number of votes cast in Rye and New Castle for two state representative seats, the Herald on Tuesday incorrectly reported a winner in the District 18 race.

October 23, 2008

NEW CASTLE — Incumbent David Borden, D-New Castle, is hoping that voters will return him to his seat as state representative.

September 21, 2008

Make room for bikers, runners and walkers

By David Borden

As youngsters, after saving money from farm work, my brother and I bought shiny new J.C. Higgins bicycles with speedometers. The promise of independence was euphoric.

Assuming they could keep us off the road a month, our parents insisted that we log 100 miles on the farm before we set our tires on the main road. Dismaying our parents, my brother and I bought our freedom in two days by marathon peddling around our hayfield.

August 18, 2008

PORTSMOUTH — Ted Regan was about to start classes at Kennedy School of Government at Harvard last year when life intervened.

August 17, 2008

Reduce oil consumption at home

By David Borden

The U.S. Geological Survey thinks that the Arctic contains a potential of 90 billion gallons of oil, which could be 7 percent of the world's oil reserves (it would supply the world for three years at current rates of consumption). Because of the melting ice cap, oil companies say that it will be easier to extract this oil. Rosy news perhaps, but it will probably cost $7 or $8 per gallon by the time it finds its way to the local gas pump or our furnace, if demand continues to go up faster than capacity.

Even if you think that climate change (and all that melting ice) is a hoax perpetrated by woolly headed tree huggers, traditional Yankee thrift would convince you that the smartest course is to cut down on our consumption. We use twice as much oil per capita as the other developed countries, so there is a lot of room to cut.

August 14, 2008

NEW CASTLE — Few are more deserving of a governor's proclamation than the Fort Stark Brigade. As a matter of fact, Gov. John Lynch presented a proclamation Wednesday to Peter Rice, the brigade's leader, at a park luncheon hosted by Executive Councilor Beverly Hollingworth.

July 21, 2008

PORTSMOUTH — It all begins one municipality, one school district at a time. That's the theory behind Green Start, a new statewide nonprofit organization based in Portsmouth that is working to make biodiesel for vehicles so commonplace in New Hampshire that it will be found at the local gas station.

July 20, 2008

Make home energy efficient before snow flies

By David Borden

Even a mild winter is going to create a financial crisis for many New Hampshire families if they heat with oil.

"There are a lot of people calling me in despair this summer. By November, they are going to be in a panic," said a New Hampshire state fuel-assistance official.

One of our neighbors uses about 1,000 gallons of oil each winter. In five years, their bill has gone from $800 a year to $4,400 a year and this winter the amount could go well over $5,000.

July 11, 2008

NEW CASTLE — University of New Hampshire scientists say that not addressing alarming changes in Great Bay Estuary could have devastating effects. And a couple of Seacoast state representatives are taking the warning to heart.

July 06, 2008

Save planet: Reduce energy use

By David Borden

"Electric power will encourage this new movement toward small towns because power may be taken to the villages. Our hard surface roads and motor trucks will help solve the transportation problem. ... Cheap power will no doubt be realized in the near future. ... Our only real problem in the future will be to use our leisure, our wealth, our power, to build and conserve character, rather than in the selfish indulgence ..."

Much of this dream, written in 1927 by Hobart Pillsbury in "New Hampshire — A History," has been realized through the availability of inexpensive and abundant fossil fuel. But Mr. Pillsbury could not have predicted that this dream would have become a nightmare for many New Hampshire residents only 80 years later because we have become totally dependent on fossil fuels.

June 06, 2008

NEW CASTLE — Forty years after presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated, the pain of the tragedy remains strong with New Castle state Rep. David Borden, who as a campaign organizer was with Kennedy and his family the night he was shot. Kennedy, a U.S. Democratic senator from New York, and brother of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, was shot on June 5, 1968, after claiming victory in the California primary. He died in the early morning hours of June 6.

May 20, 2008

NEW CASTLE — Efforts are under way to bring a store to town, sort of a general store/café, a place where neighbors can meet.

April 21, 2008

NEW CASTLE — The public is invited to attend a meeting to learn more about the options on the table to fund education. The meeting will be held at the New Castle Recreation Center on April 23rd at 6:30 p.m. Join Representative David Borden, D-New Castle, as he facilitates a discussion on school funding issues.

March 08, 2008

"I wonder how much plastic is thrown away each day in the school lunch room?" ponders fifth-grader Anna. If we could reduce the use of plastic in schools, how much better would that be for the environment?

February 21, 2008

PORTSMOUTH — Rye Conservation Commission Chair Jim Raynes is so concerned over how waste water is going to be treated as a result of a new study that he wrote about it for the commission's submission to the annual town report.

February 17, 2008

CONCORD — State lawmakers took a step recently to help New Hampshire be greener. The House passed a bill requiring state vehicles that run on diesel fuel and state buildings that heat with oil to use at least a percentage of biodiesel fuel unless the cost is prohibitive.

February 02, 2008

NEWINGTON NH - Members of a committee trying to solve the Seacoast region's sewage problems don't like the idea of dumping treated wastewater into the ocean, but they aren't ready to rule it out either.

December 09, 2007

An incentive to reduce pollution

By David Borden

Like our 7-year-old granddaughter and her playground pals, the electric power companies and the N.H. Public Utilities Commission speak an obscure language that normal adults can't understand.

"Cap and trade" and "RGGI" are the latest electric company obfuscations.

New Hampshire has large, coal-fired electric plants in Bow and Newington and several gas-fired power plants. Most seventh-graders know that by burning coal and other fossil fuels, power companies are producing gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Burning coal probably also contributes to asthma rates in New Hampshire, already among the highest in the nation.

October 31, 2007

PORTSMOUTH — A bill making its way through the N.H. House of Representatives to consolidate the power structure of the Pease Development Authority was met with skepticism by the few people who attended a hearing on the proposal Tuesday.

October 24, 2007

RYE — A meeting Monday night left many Rye residents with more questions than answers.

The meeting was put together by state Rep. David Borden, D-New Castle, but there have been rumblings throughout town all summer. Residents know that the Seacoast Science Center and State Parks and Recreation officials are in negotiations for a new contract. Town and state officials say they are not included in the negotiations and are not being told what changes may be coming.

October 21, 2007

Seacoast lawmakers are playing a key role this fall in shaping state energy policy for maybe two decades. Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, D-Portsmouth, and Rep. Naida Kaen, D-Lee, want to encourage consumers and businesses to use less energy. That means little things like weaning people from big cars and heat-leaking windows. It could also mean whole new industries.

September 27, 2007

At the end of a residential street in New Castle, on the seacoast, sits one of New Hampshire's oldest historic sites. But despite its importance, no street signs point out its location and it rarely sees visitors. A local group of residents is working to change all that.

September 18, 2007

NEW CASTLE — Tucked at the end of Wild Rose Lane is a scenic jewel that might be the town's greatest secret — Fort Stark.

September 16, 2007

Geothermal energy holds great promise

By David Borden

Miss Bicknell presided over the one-room schoolhouse I attended in South Royalton, Vt. "The Earth is filled with water," she announced one day.

My brother John, who hadn't learned diplomacy, said, "Miss Bicknell, the Earth is filled with lava." Miss Bicknell cast a cold, icy stare at my brother and said, "Johnny, you can dig a hole anywhere in Windsor County and you will get water, but you won't find lava anywhere."

There is an amazing man in New Hampshire who is known in Concord as "Mr. Geothermal." A former state legislator and nuclear engineer, the Honorable Sam Cataldo has tirelessly promoted a dream of electricity production though geothermal energy.

August 31, 2007

A State commission is holding meeting around the state to study the feasibility of locally grown and produced bio-diesel fuels. NHPR Correspondent Roger Wood attended the commission's third meeting, held this week in Portsmouth and he files this report.

August 05, 2007

Saving the planet starts in your back yard

By David Borden

Every day, large pickup trucks towing even larger trailers invade our neighborhood. Workers spill out of the trucks and scramble around unloading an amazing array of gasoline-powered equipment. And soon the air is filled with the roar these gasoline engines beating lawns into submission.

The variety of equipment used in this attack on our lawns is astonishing. There are large lawn-mowing platforms that people stand on, "weed whackers" with little two-cycle engines that trim the edges of the lawns, and even a noisy machine strapped to the back which blows a hurricane of air furiously at lawn cuttings and other debris — almost as fast as one could perform the task with a rake or broom. This is a great business because so many people love the convenience of having someone else do their lawns and cut their shrubs. It is perfect summer employment for hundreds of young people in New Hampshire. There are ten pages of landscapers in our phone book.

July 22, 2007

PORTSMOUTH — Next month's five-day march to the Statehouse aimed at promoting clean energy is gradually gaining energy in the Seacoast region and throughout the state.

June 29, 2007

RYE — A lone bagpipe player walked slowly down Columbus Road, no more than a dirt path leading to a special location out at Odiorne Point.

June 26, 2007

NORTH HAMPTON — State Rep. David Borden, D-New Castle, will share his thoughts on energy and environmental conservation with town residents on Wednesday.

June 17, 2007

N.H. Advantage hurt by reliance on autos

Consider ways to spend $1B in transport funds

By David Borden

Now is the time, and we are the ones we have been waiting for. — Hopi elders

The quality of our lives and the "New Hampshire Advantage" are threatened if we continue trying to fit more and more automobiles onto our roads. In New Hampshire, 37 percent of the energy we consume is invested in fuel for our vehicles. Automobile traffic is projected to increase two to three times as fast as the population. In a short time, a rural state with a few factory towns has become a vast suburbia with traffic congestion in all corners. The cost of widening Interstate 93 from four lanes to eight is likely to reach $1 billion. Meanwhile, the Conservation Law Foundation estimates that after only eight years, traffic on the new highway will be as bad as it is today.

May 17, 2007

PORTSMOUTH — Not supporting a constitutional amendment for education funding could cost the Seacoast dearly, claim the communities that gathered to fight the statewide property tax.

May 15, 2007

RYE — A piece of history that might have remained hidden for all time has been restored to its rightful place, thanks to a determined group of Seacoast residents.

April 24, 2007

CONCORD — Senators heard unanimous, but sometimes lukewarm, support last week for a renewable energy bill that critics say might need tweaking before long.

April 10, 2007

CONCORD — The House voted 253-37 last week to pass a renewable energy bill to encourage construction of more wood-fired power plants like the new 50-megawatt facility at Schiller Station in Portsmouth and several projects recently announced in the North Country. One megawatt can light and heat roughly 1,000 homes.

April 08, 2007

Four year ago, David Borden of New Castle started putting the pieces together. His wife's asthma was getting worse, the price of gasoline was starting to rise, and the northern old maple trees on his property were dying while the southern red oaks were flourishing.

April 2007

NEW CASTLE, N.H. -- Rep. David Borden's dreams of energy independence are fueled by biodiesel.

The first-term lawmaker said he converted to biodiesel -- fuel made from vegetable or animal fats -- four years ago as he noticed his wife's worsening asthma, the increasing cost of gas and the dying maple trees on his property. Borden now uses biodiesel to power his boat, farm equipment and heat his home.

February 11, 2007

Sun can power homes, empower owners

By David Borden

"I'd put my money on solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. I wish I had more years left." -- Thomas Alva Edison, 1928

Somewhere on the building where you live there is a little glass covered dial in a meter owned by the power company. When the dial turns fast, you are using lots of power. It is almost impossible to make the dial stop altogether as something is always draining power in your building, a happy circumstance for the power company.

February 06, 2007

STRATHAM -- John Decker, aka the Sign Bandit, will have his day before state lawmakers this week as he argues for a stronger litter law.

State Rep. Jim Splaine is sponsoring a bill making it clear that roadside signs are litter, specifically political and commercial ads illegally placed on public property. The bill is co-sponsored by Reps. Laura Pantelakos, David Borden and Christopher Serlin, all of Portsmouth.Add News Story here

January 25, 2007

RYE -- Selectmen and other town officials are opposed to the legalization of marijuana. That was the answer to one question posed by state Reps. David Borden and Otto Grote (New Castle and Rye, respectively) when they met with the board Monday night to discuss legislative issues. Grote raised the question. He serves on the criminal justice committee and said it's generating a lot of discussion.

January 07, 2007

Biodiesel for home heating

By David Borden

"Getting off oil can be profitable. The major impediment is not realizing it's possible." -- Amory B. Lovins

We use approximately 300 million gallons of home heating oil in New Hampshire each year, making it at least a $1/2 billion industry employing hundreds of suppliers, installers, maintenance people and drivers.