Author

Amanda Gokee

Amanda Gokee

Amanda Gokee reported on energy and environment for New Hampshire Bulletin. She also previously reported on these issues at VTDigger. Amanda grew up in Vermont and is a graduate of Harvard University. She received her master’s degree in liberal studies, with a concentration in creative writing, from Dartmouth College. Her work has also appeared in the LA Review of Books and the Valley News.

Governor says fewer people than expected have applied for energy assistance program

By: - December 9, 2022

Gov. Chris Sununu said Wednesday that a lot of money remains in an energy assistance program and that the state is seeing less uptake than expected given high energy costs this winter for both home heat and power. “There’s a lot of money available,” Sununu said at a press event. The Legislature allocated $42 million […]

Eversource electricity rates to decrease slightly but remain near historic highs

By: - December 8, 2022

Eversource, the state’s largest utility, on Thursday requested new electricity rates for its small customers. The new rates, which would still remain near all-time highs, represent a 2 cent per kilowatt hour decrease compared to the current rate of 22 cents per kilowatt hour. That 20-cent rate would apply to residents and small-business customers if […]

Lawmakers elect Packard as House speaker, Scanlan as secretary of state

By: - December 7, 2022

This story was updated on Dec. 14 at 9:06 a.m. Rep. Amanda Toll, a Keene Democrat, sat nursing her one-week-old baby as a roll call vote that normally takes 30 seconds stretched on for nearly 30 minutes. Members of the New Hampshire House voted the old-fashioned way during “Organization Day” Wednesday, foregoing electronic voting as […]

Energy costs could keep climbing amid ongoing market volatility

By: - December 7, 2022

A tanker full of liquefied natural gas heads to New England’s largest electricity generator. Then, it abruptly changes course, abandoning its North American contract for a higher bidder in Europe. Scenarios like this are driving up energy costs across New England, experts warn. And that makes it nearly impossible to predict just how expensive electricity […]

State House on a cloudy day

Republicans say no to DNC primary demands

By: - December 5, 2022

New Hampshire Republican leaders said they won’t comply with demands a key Democratic National Committee panel outlined Friday as a condition of allowing the state to go second in the next Democratic presidential primary. Republican leaders said New Hampshire will preserve its long-held tradition of holding the nation’s first presidential primary – even if that […]

Updated fees for Cannon approved for 2022-2023 ski season

By: - November 30, 2022

Same-day adult lift tickets for Cannon will increase by $5 for both adults and seniors this ski season, after approval this month from a key legislative committee. The new rates were approved after lawmakers pushed back on initial plans by the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources for bigger increases for seniors, residents, and state […]

Republicans secure slim majority in NH House

By: - November 29, 2022

Republicans have secured a slim 201 to 198 majority in the New Hampshire House after a review of contested ballots left recount results intact Monday. The fate of one House seat is still undecided after a recount found Democrat Chuck Grassie and Republican David Walker had tied, each receiving 970 votes. The Ballot Law Commission […]

A man checks the insulation in a basement

$6.2 million for weatherization assistance approved by Executive Council

By: - November 28, 2022

The state will receive $6.2 million in federal money for its weatherization assistance program, following approval from the Executive Council last week.  The money comes ahead of a particularly expensive winter heating season, according to projections from the U.S. Energy Information Administration that found households heating with natural gas could see almost a 30 percent […]

Talking energy with the new head of the NH Electric Co-op

By: - November 24, 2022

The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative has a new president. Alyssa Clemsen Roberts started in September as energy rates had begun skyrocketing and many in the state worried how they would afford their electric bills during an exceptionally expensive winter.  Clemsen Roberts, who replaces outgoing President Steve Camerino, spoke with the Bulletin last month about the […]

Recount returns Manchester House seat to Republicans

By: - November 22, 2022

Republican Larry Gagne won the Manchester Ward 6 House seat in a second recount completed Tuesday evening. The seat had flipped from Gagne to Democrat Maxine Mosley in an initial recount completed last week. But on Thursday, Secretary of State David Scanlan said the first recount didn’t appear to have included all votes, prompting Mosley […]

Recount of Manchester Ward 6 House race to continue, rules Judge Amy Ignatius

By: - November 22, 2022

A contentious recount will continue in a Manchester Ward 6 House race despite efforts by Democrats to end it, Merrimack County Superior Court judge Amy Ignatius ruled Tuesday morning. Democrats Maxine Mosley, a candidate in the race, and Sen. Donna Soucy filed a lawsuit to stop a continuation of the recount, arguing it had already […]

Merrimack Superior Court to rule on contentious House recount

By: - November 21, 2022

Merrimack Superior Court Judge Amy Ignatius will decide “quickly” whether a recount of a contentious House race can proceed, she said Monday, after hearing arguments from the state and lawyers representing the candidates.  “It sounds like this is an unusual and messy situation,” Ignatius said Monday. The hearing came after Democrats Maxine Mosley, a candidate […]