Federal energy records show coal falling from about a quarter of New Hampshire’s generation in 2000 to just over 1 percent, and carbon dioxide from its power plants down by nearly three-quarters from the 2004 peak. The state’s average electricity price ranked seventh-highest in the country.
Governor Kelly Ayotte’s recent call for New Hampshire to lead in next-generation nuclear power marks a significant shift from the protests of the 1970s against the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant. With rising electricity costs and a drive for decarbonization, the state faces challenges in building new reactors, including costs, community acceptance, and workforce shortages.
