Did lobbyist cash follow NH GOP data center votes?
All 16 Republican New Hampshire senators voted to remove proposed noise, setback and power-use checks from a data center bill. The vote was followed by thousands of dollars in contributions from the New Hampshire Home Builders Association PAC to Republican senators, while the bill later died after being tabled by the House.
New Hampshire Senate Republicans unanimously supported an amendment removing noise limits, setbacks and power checks from legislation intended to regulate data centers. The amendment also would have required municipalities to allow data centers in commercial and industrial zones, although local zoning rules would otherwise remain in effect. The House later advanced an even broader version before tabling the bill, causing it to die at the end of the legislative session.
The Granite Post reported that the New Hampshire Home Builders Association’s political action committee sent $24,700 to 12 Republican senators after the January vote, including a contribution to Sen. Kevin Avard on the day of the vote. The story also examines lobbying and consulting ties involving Republican strategist Periklis Karoutas. Data center development remains contentious in the state, including public opposition that led to the withdrawal of a proposed Nottingham project and an Eversource study of a potential large power connection in Bow. Gov. Kelly Ayotte and House Democrats have discussed statewide moratorium proposals for future sessions.