Rep. McGee seeks capacity planning requirement for the state's 10‑year energy strategy

Representative Kat McGee (Hillsborough 35) told the committee HB 16‑66 would add a required capacity‑planning section to New Hampshire's 10‑year energy strategy updated every three years. The proposed section would estimate growth in electricity demand by sector — housing, transportation, data centers, commercial and industrial — and, where useful, by sub‑regions of the state.

"Rather than picking winners and losers, the 10‑year energy strategy report should provide us with information that tells us where we are at and gives us some data to support plans that are focused on actual problems in need of solving," McGee told the committee, arguing the December 2025 update gave little actionable strategy for managing increased electrification.

Meg Stone of the Department of Energy said the department is neutral and asked the legislature to clarify whether "capacity planning" refers to generation, distribution or transmission needs. Stone said DOE would likely need outside consultants for parts of the analysis and had not identified a funding source for that work; she also cited existing statutory processes (RSA 7‑378 and ISO‑NE planning) that already cover parts of the forecast and urged specificity on use of consultants and funding.

Committee members pressed on whether utility planning is being captured in the 10‑year strategy and whether ISO‑NE regional planning would be leveraged. McGee said the intent is to formalize capacity planning as part of the strategy so the state can identify where investment or policy actions will be needed.

What happens next: DOE offered to supply definitions and to work with the sponsor; the committee closed the public hearing on HB 16‑66 that day. If advanced, the bill's fiscal and staffing implications — including consultant costs — will require further detail in the fiscal note.