Author

Amanda Gokee is the New Hampshire Bulletin’s energy and environment reporter. She 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.
Senate considers bill banning discussions on ‘low carbon fuel standards programs’
By: Amanda Gokee - April 27, 2021
A proposal before the Senate would prohibit state employees from speaking or gathering information about “low carbon fuel standards programs.” A hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee on Monday focused on the Transportation and Climate Initiative, but concerns have been raised that the language in the bill could be interpreted more broadly […]
Lawmakers debate proposal to change funding for energy-efficiency programs
By: Amanda Gokee - April 27, 2021
A proposal to change the funding mechanism for energy-efficiency programs was hotly contested in testimony before lawmakers on Monday. Some who spoke before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee blamed House Bill 351 for the ongoing delay of the 2021-2023 energy-efficiency plan. There has been no decision from the Public Utilities Commission on a […]
State prepares for federal funding to boost broadband access
By: Amanda Gokee - April 26, 2021
Kara Toms had never worried about having high-speed internet in her Meriden home, but when the pandemic hit, her teenage children suddenly depended on the connection to attend their high school classes. At one point both Toms and her husband were working remotely – she’s a mental health counselor and he’s an engineer – but […]
Half a million dollars coming to state to support homeless students
By: Amanda Gokee - April 23, 2021
On Monday, New Hampshire will receive the first installment of American Rescue Plan money that has been earmarked for homeless students. New Hampshire will receive nearly $2.3 million in total. The state will receive an initial distribution of $573,993, and the remainder will be delivered as soon as June. The money will be used to […]
Senate approves environmental protection for coastal marshlands
By: Amanda Gokee - April 22, 2021
In a unanimous vote, the Senate passed a proposal on Thursday to protect fragile marshlands in the state’s coastal region. House Bill 184 would prevent people from taking jet skis within 300 feet of the Rye estuary and the New Castle back channel, areas that are environmentally sensitive. Jet skis have been banned from the […]
Secretary of State hosts controversial briefing on federal legislation to expand voting access
By: Amanda Gokee - April 21, 2021
This story was updated April 21, 2021 at 9 p.m. The Secretary of State’s Office held a briefing on Wednesday for state election officials about the impact federal legislation would have on elections in New Hampshire. The briefing, which was led by Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan, came after Secretary Bill Gardner’s controversial testimony […]
Proposal would provide protections to sex workers reporting sexual assault
By: Amanda Gokee - April 21, 2021
This story was updated on April 21 at 5:12 p.m. to correct the spelling of Pamela Keilig’s name. A proposal before the Senate Judiciary Committee aims to provide protections to sex workers who report a sexual assault. Opponents of the measure said it would grant sex workers immunity from all crimes, a claim the bill’s […]
With dog theft on the rise, lawmakers look to crack down
By: Amanda Gokee - April 19, 2021
There’s a dark side to the increase in demand for pets during the pandemic: when those procuring the animals do so illegally. Dog theft has been on the rise nationally during the pandemic, with thieves snatching dogs from their yards and even from houses. Now state lawmakers are considering a proposal to increase the penalty […]
Vaccination of minority populations continues to lag
By: Amanda Gokee - April 19, 2021
When Clifton West learned that there was a surplus of vaccines in Strafford County, he promptly went into fire-drill mode. He made calls, sent text messages, composed emails – any method he could think of to get the word out. “It was like, oh my God, okay, we have to get people there,” he said. […]
What would a new Department of Energy mean for New Hampshire?
By: Amanda Gokee - April 16, 2021
A proposal to create a new Department of Energy would be a major overhaul of how energy policy is made and regulated in New Hampshire. Clean-energy advocates are eager for change. With energy policy and regulation spread between various state agencies, some key decisions and the allocation of funding have been delayed for years, leaving […]
Efforts waylaid to make Indigenous People’s Day an official state holiday
By: Amanda Gokee - April 15, 2021
When a proposal about Indigenous People’s Day in New Hampshire came out of a House committee, Paul Pouliot of Alton was surprised by what he saw – and not in a good way. It had changed so much that Pouliot was glad when the proposal was ultimately tabled. Pouliot is the council chief and speaker […]
Bill moves state primary from September to June
By: Amanda Gokee - April 14, 2021
New Hampshire’s state primary is currently one of the latest in the country. It is one of only four states that hold primaries after August. Last week, the House passed House Bill 98, which would move the primary up from the second Tuesday in September to the fourth Tuesday in June. Some political analysts say […]