NH Senate passes legislation to enable next generation of nuclear power
NH Senate passes legislation to enable next generation of nuclear power
Updated: 5:49 PM EDT May 22, 2025
HOPES OF LOWERING THE COST OF ENERGY IN THE DECADES TO COME. NEW HAMPSHIRE FACES ELECTRICITY COSTS ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND ENERGY PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN FUELING THE HIGH COST OF LIVING. LOOKING FAR INTO THE FUTURE THURSDAY, THE STATE SENATE PASSED LEGISLATION THAT COULD ONE DAY ENABLE THE NEXT GENERATION OF NUCLEAR POWER TO BE BUILT IN THE GRANITE STATE. THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDES TOOLS TO ADDRESS THAT CHALLENGE. IT PERMITS UTILITIES TO ISSUE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS FOR MULTIYEAR ENERGY AGREEMENTS, AND IT ALLOWS FOR THE PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE ADVANCED NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS SMALL, MODULAR AND NEXT GENERATION REACTORS THROUGH 2040. THE AMENDED VERSION OF THIS BILL ALSO LIFTS THE ANNUAL CAP FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME COMMUNITY SOLAR PROJECTS FROM 6 TO 18MW. AND IT ENABLES MULTIYEAR PURCHASE POWER AGREEMENTS, WHICH DID DRAW SOME OPPOSITION AS CONSUMERS, WE CAN CHANGE SUPPLIERS AFTER A YEAR OR MAYBE TWO. WHILE THESE LONG TERM POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS MEAN THAT IF THE STATE ENTERS INTO A BAD DEAL, RATEPAYERS WILL BE STUCK FOR FOR DECADES. NEW HAMPSHIRE HASN’T ALLOWED UTILITIES TO OWN POWER GENERATION SOURCES FOR DECADES, ONE SENATOR CALLING THE REVERSAL IN THIS BILL A SURPRISING TURN OF EVENTS. BUT WE’VE HAD SURPRISING TURN OF EVENTS IN IN TECHNOLOGY AS WELL. SMALL MODULAR REACTORS, WHICH WE PROBABLY WON’T SEE FOR MAYBE ANOTHER 5 TO 10 YEARS. BUT THEY ARE THEY ARE COMING. THEY’RE BEING MANUFACTURED. AND IT COULD BE A GREAT TRANSITION FOR OUR ENERGY SUPPLIES, A GREAT DIVERSIFICATION FROM THEM AND A GREAT DISTRIBUTION OF THEM AS
NH Senate passes legislation to enable next generation of nuclear power
Updated: 5:49 PM EDT May 22, 2025
Senators said the legislation could one day enable the next generation of nuclear power to be built in the Granite State.
Senators said the legislation could one day enable the next generation of nuclear power to be built in the Granite State.