Bob Williams, Board Member & Treasurer

Meet Our Board

Bob Backus, Esq., President of the Board

Joshua Gordon, Esq., Board Member & Counsel

Sarah “Cici” Bonneau, Board Member

Robert “Renny” Cushing, Board Member

Harley Featherston, Board Member

Barbara French, Board Member

Gary Gilmore, Board Member

Welcome to CRR.  We are a unique (and uniquely New Hampshire) organization whose purpose is to be the guardian of small customers against the predatory practices of that last bastion of monopoly power, the regulated utilities.  We stand for true competition, fair and non-discriminatory prices, and the expansion of both energy efficiency and renewable and clean energy sources.

 

Throughout our history we sounded the warning against the greatest folly in New Hampshire history:  Seabrook.  And when, despite our efforts, Seabrook succeeded in bankrupting PSNH, CRR was alone in opposing the bail out deal that caused PSNH rates to its  400,000 customers - and the 66,000 member of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative - to skyrocket. 

 

But we are not content to remind those in power: "We told you so." Today, we have a vital role to insure that your interests are not forgotten as PSNH and NU attempt to shape the inevitable restructuring of the industry with only their own interests in mind. 

 

This means CRR is, and has to be, a force at the Public Utilities Commission, in the legislature, in the media, and, if necessary, in the courts. 

 

We welcome you and solicit your advice and support.

 

-Bob Backus, Board President

Gary McCool, Board Member

Mary Metcalf, Board Member (honorary)

Bruce Montville, Board Member

Chris Sterndale, Board Member

Roy Stewart, Board Member

Craig Williams, Board Member

Patrick Arnold, Executive Director

The CRR is governed by a board of directors. In order to best serve the citizens of New Hampshire, our board comprises individuals who represent a variety of professional, political, and geographical backgrounds.

Robin Read, Board Member

A former two-term member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Portsmouth, Robin has been active in New Hampshire environmental and social issues for more than 30 years. From 1997 to 2001 he developed renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in the Governor's Office of Energy and Community Services, served on energy-related regulatory committees, and represented the office in legislative proceedings. He was active in the Clamshell Alliance's opposition to the Seabrook nuclear power plant and has worked on the New Hampshire campaign staff of several candidates for state and national office.

Bob Backus is of counsel to Backus, Meyer, Solomon & Branch, LLP, a Manchester-based law firm which he founded nearly forty years ago. A lifelong activist and founding member of CRR, he has worked to protect New Hampshire’s natural resources and utility consumers before the State legislature, federal and state administrative agencies, and in the courts. Among his long list of community activities, Bob has served on the Boards of the Conservation Law Foundation and the Nuclear Information and Research Service, and serves as a Rule 170 Mediator for the New Hampshire Superior Court. He holds an undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

A resident of Chichester, NH since 1973, Bob Williams owns and operates a wheel alignment shop with his wife, Linda.  Over the years, Bob has been an advocate for safe, clean energy and energy conservation.  He is one of the five founders of the Campaign for Ratepayers Rights and has served as the volunteer treasurer since 1990.

Joshua Gordon is an attorney with a practice in Concord, NH, where he specializes in appellate litigation. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire and a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. More information can be found at http://www.appealslawyer.net

An environmental consultant, Cici Bonneau represented Westmoreland, NH in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1992 until 1998.

Renny Cushing is the founder and Executive Director of Murder Victims’ Families for Human Rights. He formerly served for two terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

A resident of Salem, Harley Featherston worked overseas in the oil exploration industry for 12 years before becoming a real estate broker in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. His community activities include serving as Chairman of the Salem Trustees of the Trust Funds, as a Public member of the New Hampshire Board of Nursing, as a member of the Board of the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union, and as a State Committee member of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. He holds a B.A. from Oklahoma University.

Representative French is currently serving her seventh term in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, where she represents citizens of Henniker, NH. She has served as a member and on the boards for countless organizations, including the New Hampshire Nurses Association, the New Hampshire Retired Education Association and the National Association of School Nurses. She holds degrees from the Univ. of New Hampshire, Cornell University and Mount St. Mary College.