This bill establishes a task force to study critical infrastructure related to energy transmission, specifically focusing on transmission corridors, electric vehicle (EV) charging terminals for interstate trucking, and port electrification. The task force will include representatives from various state departments and is tasked with identifying projected electricity needs, feasible highway transmission corridors, associated costs, regulatory issues, and technologies for generation and charging infrastructure. A report from the task force is due by June 30, 2027, with costs for its preparation recoverable by the Department of Energy. Additionally, the bill authorizes a microgrid pilot program aimed at enhancing energy resilience and supporting distributed energy development.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the Department of Energy to develop cybersecurity guidelines for distributed energy systems and requires public water systems and wastewater treatment facilities to implement cybersecurity protection programs, tailored to the size and complexity of the systems, with exemptions for those not using Internet-connected control systems. The bill repeals previous sections of law (RSA 162-R:8, RSA 162-R:9, and RSA 162-R:10) and establishes new sections to replace them. The effective date for the cybersecurity provisions is set for July 1, 2027, while the rest of the act takes effect upon passage. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the state's energy infrastructure and management without imposing new fiscal impacts on state, county, or local expenditures or revenues.