6/11/2025 PB Meeting

The TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

Planning Board Meeting

June 11, 2025

Minutes

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Present: Alecia Loveless, Linda Moore, Jerry Blanchard, Sean Gawlik, April Hibberd, Rob Gilgen and Sally Fitzgerald

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Alecia Loveless called the meeting to order at 6:00.

 

Conservation Commission Chair Cheryl Jensen is before the Board to talk about HB 639 – Cryptocurrency Mining and potential updates to the town’s noise and aquifer protection ordinances and the creation of two new ordinances, one for groundwater protection and the other regarding crypto mines.

 

The bill, which establishes a new legal framework in New Hampshire to protect blockchain technology and its users by creating a chapter titled “Blockchain Basic Laws” within the state’s legal code, is due to go before the NH Senate on 6/12/2025.  There are three potential outcomes; concur to pass the bill, non-concur to kill the bill, or to send it to conference. Cheryl advises the Board that if the bill passes the Town has limited options, but if it doesn’t pass then the town can address the matter at Town Meeting and put an end to potentially cryptocurrency mining in Bethlehem. Cheryl will keep the Planning Board up to date on her research and potential warrant articles the Conservation Commission will be seeking the Planning Boards support of.

 

John Shortreed, Joshua Bush, and Trey Haynes, representatives from Virdi Renewable Natural Gas, formerly known as Rudapta, were before the board to introduce themselves and to give an update on the facility.  Currently they are upgrading the facility and hope to be fully operational by mid-July with a staff of 35 to 40. When asked how many trucks a day would be coming and going, they stated 2 to 3. They also clarified that they would be scheduling around the town’s noise ordinance.

 

The Board reviewed the minutes from 5/28/2025. Jerry Blanchard motioned to accept the minutes as presented. Sally Fitzgerald seconded, a unanimous vote in favor followed.

 

Alecia Loveless motioned to go into nonpublic per RSA 91A-3 II for reasons pertaining to legal. Sally Fitzgerald seconded and roll call followed.  The board discussed matters pertaining to Eversource’s U199 rebuild. Alecia Loveless motioned to come out of nonpublic session. Jerry Blanchard seconded and roll call followed.

 

There being no further business, Jerry Blanchard motioned to adjourn. April Hibberd seconded, a unanimous vote followed.

 

Respectfully submitted by,

Dawn Ferringo, Planning and Zoning Clerk