tl;dr: New Hampshire just opened a formal proceeding on advanced nuclear development. If you want to have input, email [email protected] with subject line INV 2026-001.
In 1992, James Carville plastered a sign on the wall of Bill Clinton's campaign headquarters that read: "It's the economy, stupid."
Now we need a new sign: It's the energy, stupid.
The deepest constraint on American prosperity right now is whether we can produce cheap, abundant, and reliable electricity. Everything will soon be downstream of this thanks to automation and robotics, if it isn’t already.
With new legislation this week, New Hampshire is lighting the bat signal for companies and founders solving this problem. We need your input.
The only way out is through
Before talking about New Hampshire, let’s take a look at the state of play on the field.
Electricity prices are taking off, with no end in sight as demand continues to spike.
The industries that will define the next decade of American economic output - AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor fabs - are all intensely power-hungry. Unfortunately, households foot some of the bill, sharing the cost burden alongside these companies.
And sure, people can try to stop these specific industries from flourishing but mankind’s electricity consumption has only increased over time and won’t stop. We’ll just find other ways to consume more electricity.
The only way out is through, and the way through is to generate more power.
New Hampshire's structural advantage
New Hampshire already has energy abundance in its DNA - 60% of in-state electricity generation already comes from nuclear. It has institutional knowledge and a trained workforce capable of building more.
The policy action in Concord over the last two years has also been significant. Real legislative frameworks are in place.
In 2025, the New Hampshire legislature and Governor Ayotte passed bills charting a new course for energy in the state.
House Bill 504 set goals to remove regulatory barriers to innovation while fostering reliable, on-demand, diverse, and firm energy resources.
House Bill 189 updated the state's 10-year energy strategy to formally include nuclear under a broader clean energy definition.
House Bill 672 created the concept of an "off-grid electricity provider" exempt from public utility regulation.
The state has a history of energy innovation and has been quietly passing bills to propel that into the future.
Freedom Village sent a letter of support to NH Department of Energy. Read it here:
New Hampshire is already pro-nuclear
New Hampshire is quietly one of the most nuclear-powered states in America. Its primary in-state electricity source is nuclear and we are a net energy exporter.
One plant does the heavy lifting. Seabrook Station supplied about 56% of New Hampshire’s in-state electricity generation in 2024. That is an absurd amount of grid muscle for a single facility.
Seabrook has staying power. Its operating license was issued on March 15, 1990, and its current license runs through March 15, 2050. That is long-game energy infrastructure.
This is not some mystery box reactor. Seabrook is a pressurized water reactor designed by Westinghouse.
The order signed this week makes it even better
Executive Order 2026-01 directed the New Hampshire Department of Energy to open a formal investigative proceeding covering nuclear development in the state. The Order of Notice for that proceeding was signed April 7, 2026.
The proceeding is directed to investigate:
“The ability and willingness of nuclear developers and investors to partner with regulated utilities or develop generation independently”
“The ability and willingness of regulated utilities to construct nuclear generation or facilitate the buildout of nuclear infrastructure“
“Any federal or state statutes, administrative rules, or any local ordinances that hinder or encourage the development of new nuclear generation in New Hampshire”
“Federal, state, local, and private resources, financial or otherwise, available to increase the likelihood that new nuclear generation will be developed in New Hampshire”
“Strategies for increasing the likelihood that new nuclear generation will be developed in New Hampshire.”
Moreover:
“Exec. Order No. 2026-01 further directs the Department to prepare a nuclear roadmap for New Hampshire that identifies the steps, milestones, and resources needed to attract, develop, and deploy generation in New Hampshire while ensuring safety, regulatory compliance, costeffectiveness, and stakeholder alignment.”
The best part of all this is that you can have a say. If you want to shape the course of energy regulation in New Hampshire, contact the Department of Energy at [email protected] with INV 2026-001 in the subject line of your email.
Full Order of Notice here: https://www.energy.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt551/files/inline-documents/sonh/inv-2026-001-nhdoe-order-of-notice.pdf
The Bat Signal
New Hampshire has identified one of our core societal problems, committed itself to solving it, built the legislative scaffolding, passed an Executive Order, and published a formal government proceeding laying out exactly what gaps need to be filled. Now there’s an opportunity for companies to take advantage.
If you are a founder working in energy, deeptech, biotech (more to come here 🤞), or a builder in general, New Hampshire is worth a serious look. The regulatory environment is being shaped in real time, with your input, and the state is actively looking for you.
Related:
Podcast episode: Everything is solar, A love letter to nuclear from Granite Goodness podcast | Listen on Spotify
Event May 4th: Amping up NH live recording of Granite Goodness, where we look at the forces shaping New Hampshire’s energy future.
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🤘🏽 Pardha