Press Release

CONCORD – To support her efforts to keep New Hampshire moving toward a 21st century energy policy that will create jobs and lower costs, Governor Maggie Hassan announced today that Meredith Hatfield will serve as Director of the Governor’s Office of Energy and Planning (OEP).

Hatfield, of Concord, served for six years as New Hampshire’s Consumer Advocate, representing residential utility ratepayers before the NH Public Utilities Commission in cases including electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water and consumer protection matters. Her career includes work in energy, environmental and smart growth policies and law at Pierce Atwood LLP in Concord, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton in Manchester and the Governor’s Office of Energy and Community Services.

Hatfield received her A.A.S. in Animal Science from UNH, her B.A. in Political Science from Wellesley College and her J.D. from Vermont Law School. She currently serves as procedures administrator at the New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services.

“A modern and consistent energy policy for our state combined with smart growth strategies will help create jobs, reduce energy costs, protect our natural resources and give businesses the framework they need to grow and innovate in the rapidly expanding clean energy industry,” said Governor Hassan. “Meredith brings a wide range of experience in energy and planning from both the public and private sectors, and she will be an invaluable adviser as we continue working to move New Hampshire toward a 21st century energy policy.”

“Governor Hassan is a longtime and dedicated advocate for forward-thinking energy and smart growth policies that drive job creation and make energy more affordable for families and businesses,” said Hatfield. “I am honored to assist her efforts to ensure that we protect our natural resources and that New Hampshire remains a leader in the clean energy economy.”

The Office of Energy and Planning (OEP) is part of the Executive Department within the Office of the Governor. OEP’s responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the reliability, availability, and security of the state’s energy supply through a comprehensive statewide energy plan;
• Offering community services such as heating fuel aid, floodplain management assistance, statewide population data information, and the availability of a statewide computerized geographic information system;
• Promoting the principles of smart growth at the state, regional, and local levels through the municipal and regional planning assistance program;
• Promoting energy efficiency and reducing energy costs by supporting programs for low-income households, state government buildings, businesses and industry, and schools and towns;
• Exploring opportunities to expand the use of renewable, domestic energy resources such as biomass, wind and solar energy;
• Promoting land use efficiency through a state comprehensive outdoor recreation plan and the monitoring of the state’s investment in conservation land; and
• Supporting programs that focus on protecting and managing the natural resources of heavily populated areas of the state such as the coastal watersheds.

For more information about the OEP, please visit http://www.nh.gov/oep/index.htm.