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Sununu’s Latest Site Evaluation Committee Nominee Drops Out

Governor Chris Sununu's latest nominee to the state Site Evaluation Committee has withdrawn from consideration.

The SEC is tasked with approving large-scale energy developments in the state. It includes state regulators and some public citizens.

The executive council was set to vote Wednesday on appointing former state Rep. Michael Vose as the SEC's newest public member. Vose was Sununu’s second nominee to the seat, after the executive council rejected another nominee earlier this month.

Vose, a Republican from Epping, was critical of some renewable energy and climate policies while in the House. He also expressed support for big energy projects like Northern Pass.

That drew some public opposition to his SEC nomination, with some executive councilors expressing reservations.

But Vose says he withdrew for other reasons.

"Given the vast amounts of travel that are involved around the state, and the time commitment, it just doesn't look like it's going to work out for me,” Vose says.

Vose was Sununu's second attempt to fill this SEC seat. A spokesman says the governor will choose a new nominee “in the new year when the incoming Council is sworn in.”

“Michael is a true public servant and a tireless advocate for New Hampshire’s ratepayers,” Sununu said in a statement. “I appreciate his consideration of this nomination.”

The SEC is currently between major projects, having recently approved Eversource’s application to build a new transmission line on the Seacoast.

The committee’s next controversial task may come in the form of Liberty Utilities’ Granite Bridge gas pipeline proposal. It’s expected to go before the SEC next year.

Annie has covered the environment, energy, climate change and the Seacoast region for NHPR since 2017. She leads the newsroom's climate reporting project, By Degrees.
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