New Hampshire Gov. Sununu Signs Ban on Offshore Drilling

Today, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) signed a bill banning offshore drilling off the state’s coast. 

SB 76, sponsored by Sen. Martha Fuller Clark and Rep. Renny Cushing, prohibits all offshore oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production in the coastal waters of New Hampshire. The bill also bans all leasing of tidal or submerged lands in coastal waters and permits for developments associated with offshore drilling activities, both within and outside of coastal state waters. 

New Hampshire now joins California, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon in banning offshore drilling. Several other coastal states introduced similar legislation this year and are likely to do so during the 2020 session. 

If you would like to work on offshore drilling policy or know more about ongoing efforts in the states, please visit our website at https://www.ncel.net/offshore-drilling/.