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HB 710 · 2025 · House · Science, Technology and Energy Committee

Utility ownership of advanced nuclear resources

AI-generated

(New Title) enabling electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear resources, and relative to purchased power agreements for electric distribution utilities and limitations on community customer generators.

Authorizes electric utilities to own, operate, and offer advanced nuclear resources, sets limits on distributed generation investment, clarifies energy coordinator duties, and allows multi-year power purchase RFPs coordinated with other New England states.AI-generated

Status

Died — conference committee did not agree · June 19, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✕Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Defines "advanced nuclear resource" (ANR) and includes ANR options alongside renewable energy sources for utility services. II. Sets limitations and guidelines for investments in distributed electric generation. III. Clarifies the coordinator's duties in nuclear development and regulatory activities. IV. Allows the department of energy or the electric distribution utilities, or both, to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for multi-year agreements for energy, in conjunction with or independent of any attendant environmental attributes from electric energy sources, and coordinate with one or more New England states in issuing this RFP. V. Modifies the scope and capacity limits of community solar projects, including expanding the annual cap for low-moderate income community solar projects from 6 MW to 18 MW. VI. Allows group net metering members to sign agreements with multiple group hosts, as long as their combined allocated load does not exceed their total load. VII. Expands the definition of "political subdivision" to include public housing authorities and explains eligibility for participation in group net metering.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as amended by the Senate. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The coordinator of nuclear development and regulatory activities shall have the duty to coordinate and produce the reports required by RSA 162-B:3, as well as coordinate the studies conducted, and the recommendations and proposals made, in this state with like activities in New England and other states and with the policies and regulations of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.”
Section 2
“A single net meter that shows the customer's net energy usage by measuring both the inflow and outflow of electricity internally shall be the extent of metering that is required at facilities with a total peak generating capacity of not more than [100] 500 kilowatts.”
Section 3
“The department of energy, by rule or order, shall develop a process by which community solar developers can apply for designation as a community solar project for new solar arrays.”
Section 4
“"Municipal host" means a customer generator with a total peak generating capacity of greater than one megawatt and less than 5 megawatts used to offset the electricity requirements of a group consisting exclusively of one or more customers who are political subdivisions, provided that all customers are located within the same utility franchise service territory.”
Section 5

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Michael VoseRPrimeChair· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Keith AmmonRMajority Floor Leader
  • Rep. Lex BerezhnyRAssistant Majority Leader
  • Rep. JD BernardyRClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader
  • Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
  • Sen. Howard PearlRVice Chair· Energy and Natural Resources

Also: Rep. Donald McFarlaneR, Sen. David WattersD

Public testimony

22 signed in online · 5 wrote testimony

27% support64% oppose9% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I am against cloud seeding and weather manipulation. Please pass this bill for cleaner air, water and better soil for my farm.”
— Stephanie Davis, Greenvillesupports
“I am opposed to this bill as it is a threat to New Hampshire’s economy and future prosperity. More nuclear plants are closing than being constructed because of the availability of cheaper sources of energy.…”
— Janet Lucas, Camptonopposes
“We still have no known way to safely store nuclear waste. It seems a very crazy way to produce energy when there are so many safety risks involved with nuclear power. What is the plan for all the nuclear waste we currently have produced? and you want to produce even more?…”
— Briane Pinkson, Cornishopposes
“Respectfully, the Seabrook tomb is a weighty legacy. No new SMR should be considered in NH legislation until the existing reactor is decommissioned and all the 40 years of storage casks with hot radioactive fuel are removed from the last nuclear reactor site in New England.…”
— Jaroslav Hutar, Durhamopposes
“I like many things of this bill, especially advancing nuclear, but this issue of renewables, and any designation thereof now negates some of the benefits of HCR2. In 3 III where the language is “ . . . 3 or 8 percent . . .” is limiting.…”
— Gordon Springate, Wiltonneutral

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Mar 4, 2025HouseCommittee report· regular calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0716h14–3
    Overall
    82% yea
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-0716hadopted
  • Mar 20, 2025HouseDivisionOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0716hAdopted259–85
    Overall
    75% yea
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 22, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2163s4–1
    Overall
    80% yea
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteCommittee amendment 2025-2163sfailed
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Avard Floor Amendment # 2025-2329sadopted
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Rosenwald Floor Amendment # 2025-2257sfailed
  • May 22, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2329sadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
  • May 22, 2025HouseVoice voteHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2329s and Requests CofC (Rep. S. Smith)adopted
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conferenceadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 11, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy4:21:18–4:23:312m 13slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Mar 4, 2025Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy3:51:35–3:54:002m 25slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0716h — roll call; Full Committee Work Session; Executive Session
  • Mar 20, 2025Floor debateHouse floor7:26:39–7:31:324m 53slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0716h — adopted, division 259-85; Amendment # 2025-0716h — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 1, 2025Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural Resources1:38:46–1:42:243m 38slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2329s and Requests CofC (Rep. S. Smith) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Vose, Harrington, Bernardy, McGhee
  • May 22, 2025Floor debateSenate floor1:48:43–1:49:501m 7slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2163s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-2329s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2025-2163s — failed, voice vote
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamSen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote; President Appoints: Senators Avard, Pearl, Watters; (In Recess

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 3 P. 24
  2. Feb 11, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 02/11/2025 01:00 pm LOB 302-304
  3. Mar 4, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 03/04/2025 10:30 am LOB 302-304
  4. Mar 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 03/04/2025 01:00 pm LOB 302-304
  5. Mar 4, 2025HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-0716h 03/04/2025 (Vote 14-3; RC)
  6. Mar 10, 2025HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  7. Mar 20, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-0716h: AA VV 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 88
  8. Mar 20, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-0716h: MA DV 259-85 03/20/2025 HJ 9 P. 89
  9. Mar 20, 2025SenIntroduced 03/20/2025 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 9
  10. Apr 1, 2025SenHearing: 04/01/2025, Room 103, SH, 10:00 am; SC 15
  11. May 22, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-2163s, 05/22/2025, Vote 4-1; SC 22
  12. May 22, 2025SenCommittee Amendment # 2025-2163s, AF, VV; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  13. May 22, 2025SenSen. Avard Floor Amendment # 2025-2329s, AA, VV; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  14. May 22, 2025SenSen. Rosenwald Floor Amendment # 2025-2257s, AF, VV; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  15. May 22, 2025SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2025-2329s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/22/2025; SJ 14
  16. May 22, 2025HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2025-2329s and Requests CofC (Rep. S. Smith): MA VV 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  17. May 22, 2025HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Vose, Harrington, Bernardy, McGhee 05/22/2025 HJ 15 P. 53
  18. Jun 5, 2025SenSen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  19. Jun 5, 2025SenPresident Appoints: Senators Avard, Pearl, Watters; (In Recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  20. Jun 12, 2025SenConferee Change; Senator McConkey Replaces Senator Avard; SJ 17
  21. Jun 16, 2025HouseConference Committee Meeting: 06/16/2025 10:30 am LOB 206-208
  22. Jul 8, 2025HouseConference Committee Report: Not Filed HJ 17
  23. Jun 19, 2025SenConference Committee Report; Not Signed Off; SJ 16

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.