Chicoine named interim commissioner of new Department of Energy

By: Amanda Gokee - June 29, 2021 2:17 pm

Of the $133,000 spent by the department from the fund in fiscal year 2020, nine out of 13 expenditures – totaling $31,546 – “did not appear to relate to the statutory purpose of the Fund,” the nonpartisan audit found. (Dana Wormald | New Hampshire Bulletin)

Jared Chicoine will serve as interim commissioner of New Hampshire’s new Department of Energy.

Chicoine, a resident of North Haverhill, will be leaving his current role as the director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives. The office will effectively be dissolved in the government restructuring that Gov. Chris Sununu signed into law last week as a part of the biennial budget.

Sununu’s office announced on Tuesday that Chicoine would be heading up the new department, at least until a permanent appointment is made. The interim commissioner can serve for up to 60 days, according to state law.

Chicoine has worked at the Office of Strategic Initiatives for the past four years, in addition to previously serving as Sununu’s policy director, overseeing legislative priorities and initiatives.

He is also listed as an interim executive director of Liberty For All Action Fund, a super PAC that aims to support libertarian and independent-leaning candidates. The Liberty for All website says Chicoine served as state campaign director for Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, in addition to his work on campaigns for former U.S. senators Bob Smith and John E. Sununu.

In a written statement released Tuesday, Chris Sununu said Chicoine would be able to continue the work he’s already been doing as director of strategic initiatives in this new role. That work includes “streamlining energy policy, and delivering the best deal possible for ratepayers,” Sununu said.

Consumer Advocate Don Kreis congratulated the interim commissioner in a tweet on Tuesday.

“I’ve worked with Jared extensively and can attest to his being a fine choice,” he said.

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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.