SB 447 · 2026 · Senate · Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Utilities investing in nuclear power
AI-generatedenabling 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.
Defines advanced nuclear resources and includes them alongside renewable sources for utility services, sets limits on distributed generation investments, clarifies coordinator duties in nuclear development, and allows requests for proposals for multi-year energy agreements.AI-generated
Status
Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 23, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✓Senate
- ✕House
- Governor
- 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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“"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.”
Official record
gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source
Sponsors
- Sen. Timothy LangRMajority Whip
- Sen. Mark McConkeyRChair· Capital Budget
- Sen. Howard PearlRVice Chair· Energy and Natural Resources
- Rep. Jeanine NotterRAssistant Majority Leader
- Rep. Douglas ThomasRVice Chair· Science, Technology and Energy
Also: Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR
Public testimony
23 signed in online · 4 wrote testimony
26% support74% oppose0% neutral
In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted
“We desperately need to support nuclear power; it's safe and efficient.”
“We support the community/municipal solar and net metering aspects of this legislation, as they facilitate increasingly cost-effective and community-based power alternatives, but we strongly oppose the inclusion of "advanced" nuclear power provisions in this and related legislation.…”
“SB447 permits monopolistic advantages for utility companies, harming business opportunities for others and raising utility prices for all of us.”
“I OPPOSE SB599-FN. The funds in the REF should be spent for their original purpose. Emptying the REF of most of its funds would not move NH in a positive direction. I urge you to OPPOSE it.”
Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.
Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026
Votes
yeanay- Overall80% yea
- Resulting text: Bill as amended by the Senate
- Apr 13, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0Overall100% yea
- Apr 23, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted
Hearings and debates
- Jan 8, 2026Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural Resources2:20:27–2:26:286m 1slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
- Mar 26, 2026Floor debateSenate floor1:05:23–1:11:366m 13slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1213s; Ought to Pass with Amendment #2026-1213s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1213s — adopted, voice vote
- Apr 7, 2026Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy4:01:58–4:08:597m 1slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
- Apr 13, 2026Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy10:36–16:015m 25slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
- Apr 23, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote
Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.
Legislative history
- Jan 7, 2026SenIntroduced 01/07/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 1
- Jan 8, 2026SenHearing: 01/08/2026, Room 103, SH, 02:00 pm; SC 46
- Mar 26, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1213s, 03/26/2026, Vote 4-1; SC 11
- Mar 26, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1213s, AA, VV; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
- Mar 26, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment #2026-1213s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/26/2026; SJ 7
- Mar 26, 2026HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/26/2026 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 9 P. 54
- Apr 7, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 04/07/2026 01:15 pm GP 229
- Apr 13, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 04/13/2026 09:00 am GP 229
- Apr 13, 2026HouseCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate 04/13/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC)
- Apr 23, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 04/23/2026 HJ 11 P. 12
Coverage
No reporting linked yet.
Background reading
Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy — Federal overview of what advanced small modular reactors are, how they differ from conventional plants, and their potential uses.AI-generated
- Clean EnergySupporters
Nuclear Innovation Alliance — Advocacy group's case that advanced nuclear can provide carbon-free, always-available power alongside wind and solar.AI-generated
Utility Dive — Opinion piece arguing the cancelled NuScale/UAMPS project illustrates the cost and schedule risks facing small modular reactors.AI-generated
- Nuclear WasteCritics
Union of Concerned Scientists — Explains the unresolved problem of storing and disposing of long-lived radioactive spent fuel from nuclear plants.AI-generated
New Hampshire Bulletin — Reports on New Hampshire legislation letting utilities own generation and the ratemaking debate over who bears the risk and cost.AI-generated
New Hampshire Public Radio — Examines the state's push for more nuclear power, the role of Seabrook Station, and how new reactors might fit the grid.AI-generated
Documents (PDF)
Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.