New Hampshire wants out. Out of the Ozone Transport Commission. Out of emissions testing. Out of a decades-long regional agreement designed to curb air pollution across state lines. The state’s Department of Environmental Services claims the change won’t worsen pollution. But let’s be clear: that’s not a scientific consensus. It’s a political gamble.
The proposal, quietly advanced by state officials, would eliminate mandatory emissions testing for vehicles in four counties: Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack, and Strafford. These counties are part of a federally designated “nonattainment” zone for ozone pollution. That means they’ve failed to meet national air quality standards. And yet, the state argues that emissions testing is no longer necessary. Why? Because newer cars are cleaner. Because the federal government is tightening tailpipe standards. Because the ozone problem, they say, is mostly caused by out-of-state pollution drifting in from the south.
Let’s pause. That’s a lot of deflection. And not enough accountability.
The Ozone Transport Commission was created under the Clean Air Act to coordinate pollution control across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. It’s a recognition that air doesn’t respect state borders. Smog from Connecticut can settle over New Hampshire. Emissions from Pennsylvania can choke the lungs of kids in Concord. That’s why regional cooperation matters. That’s why emissions testing, while imperfect, is part of a broader strategy to reduce ground-level ozone, a pollutant linked to asthma, respiratory illness, and premature death.
So what’s really driving this push to exit the pact? It’s not science. It’s politics.
Governor Chris Sununu’s administration has long favored deregulation. The state has resisted joining climate initiatives like the Transportation and Climate Initiative. It’s rolled back renewable energy incentives. Now, it’s targeting emissions testing. The argument is framed as “cutting red tape.” But what’s being cut isn’t bureaucracy, it’s a safeguard. A check on pollution. A tool for public health.
And the timing? Suspicious. The proposal comes as federal regulators are preparing to update ozone standards. If the new rules are stricter, and they likely will be, New Hampshire could face tougher compliance requirements. By exiting the pact now, the state avoids future obligations. It’s a preemptive retreat. A sidestep. A way to dodge accountability before the bar is raised.
Environmental advocates are sounding the alarm. They argue that emissions testing is still necessary, especially for older vehicles and heavy-duty trucks. They point to data showing that vehicle emissions remain a significant source of nitrogen oxides, which contribute to ozone formation. They warn that ending testing could reverse progress made over the past two decades. And they’re right to be concerned.
Because this isn’t just about cars. It’s about climate justice.
Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by air pollution. They live near highways. They breathe in tailpipe exhaust. They suffer higher rates of asthma and other respiratory diseases. Ending emissions testing doesn’t just risk environmental backsliding, it risks deepening inequality. It sends a message that clean air is optional. That some lungs matter less than others.
And let’s talk about transparency. The state’s proposal was submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency with minimal public input. No hearings. No outreach. No real engagement. That’s not how democracy works. That’s not how environmental policy should be made. If you’re going to dismantle a decades-old pollution control program, you owe the public a seat at the table. You owe them answers.
The EPA now has to decide whether to approve New Hampshire’s request. It’s a high-stakes decision. If the agency signs off, it could set a precedent for other states to follow. It could unravel regional cooperation. It could weaken the very framework that’s kept ozone levels in check. If the EPA rejects the request, it sends a message that science still matters. That public health still matters. That states can’t walk away from their responsibilities without consequence.
This is a moment of reckoning. For New Hampshire. For the Northeast. For the country.
We’re living through a climate crisis. Wildfires. Heatwaves. Floods. The stakes have never been higher. And yet, some leaders are still trying to roll back protections. Still trying to pretend that pollution is someone else’s problem. Still trying to dodge the hard work of building a cleaner, fairer future.
But the truth is, there’s no shortcut. No loophole. No escape hatch.
Clean air is a right. Not a privilege. Not a partisan issue. Not a line item on a budget.
New Hampshire’s proposal to end emissions testing is a test of values. Do we prioritize public health? Do we honor science? Do we protect the most vulnerable? Or do we retreat into convenience and denial?
The EPA must reject this proposal. And the public must demand better.
Because the air we breathe isn’t negotiable. And neither is justice.
This troubling pattern reflects broader political dynamics when Washington shuts down, New Hampshire feels it, demonstrating how federal environmental policies directly impact local communities. The shutdown politics and the price of inaction becomes clear when we consider what’s at stake for residents who have to breathe the air while politicians debate the rules.
