The Bulletin week in review

Good morning, New Hampshire. As we prepare to bid farewell to August, here’s a look back at the past week of Bulletin coverage and commentary. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the remainder of the weekend. — Dana

By Molly Rains

At a moment of big changes in U.S. energy use and policy, with electricity bills pinching consumers and discussions on climate and emissions both high stakes and deeply politicized, New Hampshire’s executive branch has locked in on a vision for one specific path forward. “What we do best right now looks like nuclear,” said Thomas Barrasso, director of energy innovation for the New Hampshire Department of Energy. Yet, at a series of Department of Energy-hosted stakeholder sessions this June and in interviews with the Bulletin after, some hedged on whether nuclear can deliver all the benefits the region’s governors hope it will — while others openly contradicted that idea.

By William Skipworth

Throughout the campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District, healthcare has proven to be a key focus as candidates in a crowded primary field attempt to stand out in the eyes of voters. Here’s where Carleigh Beriont, Sarah Chadzynski, Bill Conlin, Matthew Emerson, Stefany Shaheen, Sarah Bella Spinosa, Maura Sullivan, and Christian Urrutia stand on the future of American healthcare.

By Molly Rains and William Skipworth

More than two decades after the birth of the Free State Project, another group of philosophically united individuals have their eyes trained on New Hampshire, where they envision a home for a new kind of community. This month, a gathering of self-described “techno-optimists” drew about 200 attendees to a Manchester event venue to talk about the state’s tech industry and stir interest in a “village” planned by four New Hampshire tech workers and prospective founders. So what does the techno-optimist vision look like for New Hampshire? Here’s how that question was answered during the Freedom Summit.