Senator David Waters introduced a multipart energy bill (the transcript references the measure as both "5 87" and later under the hearing header SB589FN) built around a recently completed microgrid study. He said the bill would authorize further work and pilot programs, identify potential sites, and direct review of transmission corridors, interstate trucking charging terminals, port electrification, and cybersecurity guidelines for distributed energy resources as well as for drinking water and wastewater facilities.

On microgrids, Waters summarized the study’s definition and rationale: "microgrid is a local electrical power system at distribution levels... capable of operating independently" and said the study had identified five potential locations in the state that might warrant follow up. He and Department of Energy staff said a second phase of investigation or a limited pilot would be the next reasonable step rather than immediate large‑scale deployments.

Industry and stakeholder witnesses raised objections and technical cautions. Bob Scully of the New Hampshire Motor Transport Association asked that interstate trucking be removed from the bill’s study language, arguing heavy‑duty truck electrification is not yet practical for most operations and citing cost comparisons: he said a combustion engine tractor runs about $140,000 while "a full electric 1 that pulls a 80,000 pound vehicle costs $435,000" and warned of infrastructure and pavement impacts. Senator Waters responded that the bill is chiefly a study vehicle and that the language does not authorize construction or force investment.

Commissioner Bob Scott described DES’s work on water and wastewater cybersecurity, including coordination with CISA, use of ARPA funds, and a contract with the Overwatch Foundation to provide assessments, firewalls and remediation for smaller systems. He and Department of Energy director Josh Elliott emphasized the urgency of cybersecurity and suggested folding the cybersecurity review into a phase‑2 microgrid study and the bill’s rulemaking process so standards and hygiene could be developed with utilities and manufacturers.

Michael Licata of Eversource recommended technical refinements, such as focusing on distribution‑level resilience rather than transmission resilience, allowing flexibility on references to small modular reactors, and clarifying whether any costs described as "recoverable expenses" would be charged to utility ratepayers. DOE and the sponsor agreed these elements could be refined in working language and that the study and cybersecurity phase could be coordinated.

What happens next: Sponsors and agencies will refine language and amendments; committee discussion indicated the trucking component could be removed if requested and that cybersecurity should be part of the microgrid follow‑up phase. No committee vote on this multipart energy package was recorded during the hearing.