Last week, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a report which concluded that in 2008, New Hampshire sent $59 million to Venezuela for the purchase of coal. New Hampshire is #8 among the states in international coal imports, and #1 in coal imports from Venezuela.

Politico reported on Wednesday that a group of US Senators sent an open letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to designate Venezuela as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”

“Hugo Chavez’s relationships with Iran and other foreign terrorist organizations continue to grow and pose a serious threat to our hemisphere,” said Sen. LeMieux (R-FL)

We first reported last week that New Hampshire sends a whopping $2.6 billion out of the state annually importing petroleum products. The same Office of Energy and Planning document we cited also states that we spent a total $4.28 billion in 2007 for fossil fuels (including coal) and uranium, of which 80% leaves the state (about $3.4 billion). We now know that at least $59 million traces back directly to a nation* with highly irrational leadership and hostile diplomatic relations towards the US. We can assume the total amount of energy dollars NH sends to entities under the control of Hugo Chavez, including revenues from petroleum, is significantly higher.

We have the resources here in New Hampshire and nationally to end our dependence on foreign energy sources. A good place to start is ending the stream of cash to people who don’t like us. Opponents of energy reform may imply that getting off fossil fuels will raise energy costs. What, then, will the cost be if we continue to fund our enemies?

*The main coal company in Venezuela is Carbozulia, a state-owned former subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela , which is controlled by Venezuela’s state development agency Corpozulia.