National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Hassan files another nominee for SEC

CONCORD – An environmental professor from the North Country will be nominated to the Site Evaluation Committee today by Gov. Maggie Hassan.

Rachel Whitaker of Dummer would serve as an alternate member of the SEC if the Executive Council confirms her nomination at its next meeting in two weeks.

“The new makeup of the Site Evaluation Committee is critical to ensuring that the siting process for new energy projects is impartial, balanced and includes perspectives of all stakeholders,” Hassan said. “Rachel Whitaker brings varied experiences in environmental sciences and programs that will help her represent the public’s interest with an open and fair-minded approach to each potential project, and I thank her for her commitment to undertaking this important work.”

Whitaker, an assistant professor of Environmental Science at White Mountains Community College where she has taught since August 2013, would serve a four-year term on the board.

She also taught science courses at Plymouth State University from September 2009 to May 2011 and was an adjunct faculty member at the school from January 2012 to January 2013.

She has also served as the program coordinator for natural resources management at WMCC and as fisheries biological technician for New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Whitaker received her B.S. in Environmental Sciences from Lyndon State College and her M.S. in Biology from Plymouth State University.

In November, Hassan nominated Patricia Weathersby of Rye to the SEC’s slot for a member of the New Hampshire bar and Roger Hawk of Concord to the public member position on the SEC. The Executive Council will vote on those nominations at today’s meeting.

Hassan originally proposed two outgoing lawmakers for the public post and the alternative member, Sen. Bob Odell, R-New London, and Rep. Amanda Merrill, D-Durham, but wind power opponents objected, saying the two were not true public members, having helped draft the legislation revamping the SEC.

Hassan withdrew the nominations last month.