I Sing the Free State Electric.
DATE: Friday, October 3, 2025
AUTHOR: Hon. Eric Brakey - Executive Director, Free State Project
Another win for the Free State.
New Hampshire is leading on free market electricity — and setting an example for the world.
This week, in the Wall Street Journal, the Granite State was applauded for a revolutionary new law that frees energy generators that don't connect to the public grid from all utility regulation.
This is just in time for the advent of AI and crypto mining industries, setting the stage for New Hampshire to be the home for the next generation of high tech jobs.
The global race for artificial intelligence and the inability of the U.S. electricity sector to keep pace have state policymakers scratching their heads. Some respond by restricting data centers’ use of local grids; others put existing customers and taxpayers on the hook for investments to accommodate the new demand. The electricity sector is in a state of crisis.
New Hampshire recently approved an elegant solution: Let anyone build. In August Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed HB 672, which minimizes red tape for electricity providers that don’t connect to the existing grid, thus bringing more competition, speed and innovation to the state. In the spirit of reducing bureaucracy, the bill itself fits neatly on one page.
Off-grid electricity providers in New Hampshire will no longer be subject to public-utility regulation. This means they are free to develop projects, operate or enter into commercial agreements without going hat in hand to state bureaucrats. “New Hampshire welcomes entrepreneurship and innovation in energy,” says state Rep. Michael Vose, who sponsored HB 672. Recent analysis suggests regulatory hurdles can add anywhere from one to five years to projects.
Welcoming new suppliers means inviting more people with ideas for tackling electricity challenges. Picture a local utility generating power via gas, solar or even a small modular nuclear reactor and delivering it directly to customers, including data centers and other industrial facilities. New suppliers can start projects unencumbered by decades of heavily regulated business practices. Off-grid suppliers can consider innovation in all aspects of the business, beyond the usual choice of generation types.
Click here to read the full op-ed from the Wall Street Journal.
Free State Fall Fest 2025
We may be ready to power the future of technology in the Free State, but that means little if we aren't populating our communities with more people who will Keep New Hampshire Free.
That's why the FSP partners with community members year-round to provide and promote events and opportunities for freedom-lovers to visit New Hampshire.
Whether you already live in New Hampshire or are looking for an opportunity to visit, I hope you join us in 8 days for Fall Fest.
Celebrate the arrival of autumn in New Hampshire with Free State Fall Fest 2025.
Fall Fest is a collection of family-friendly events, organized by Free Staters across the Granite State over the long Columbus Day Weekend.
Each event is designed to build community and showcase the unique beauty and offerings of New Hampshire.
Check out the Fall Fest event offering below and plan your long weekend in the only New England state that has “autumn, without communism.”
RSVPs are encouraged for all Fall Fest events.
CLICK HERE for full Fall Fest event details.
Saturday, October 11
Start your Fall Fest weekend with an autumn apple tradition.
RSVP: Amber.Daves@CBRealty.com
How’s your aim? Can you throw an axe like a true Granite Stater?
Tickets required.
CLICK HERE for tickets.
Sunday, October 12
Like liberty, the world’s largest arcade lives in New Hampshire.
Over 600 games, a 20-lane bowling center, an 18-hole indoor mini-golf, a restaurant, a tavern, and more!
A casual conference bringing together financial tech innovators, researchers, company leaders, and Bitcoin enthusiasts to explore digital assets, cryptocurrencies, and other emerging technical applications.
Tickets required.
CLICK HERE for tickets.
Monday, October 13
As the leaves change to autumn colors, join us on the final morning of Fall Fest for a family hike in Auburn, NH.
RSVP: Amber.Daves@CBRealty.com
End the long weekend with a family film night at the Independence Inn.
RSVP: Constance Spencer
constance@independencerealtynh.com
Free State Lawmakers Honored
Over the 22 years of the Free State Project, participants find many ways to honor their pledge to "exert [the] fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of government is the protection of individual rights to life, liberty, and property."
In pursuit of that goal, many Free Staters have taken a political path by serving as activists and elected leaders in the NH Legislature.
With so many policy wins racking up in recent years — including free market electricity, school choice, the repeal of vehicle inspection mandates, and the total abolition of all personal income taxes — it is valuable to see that hard work of liberty legislators recognized and honored.
I want to congratulate twelve Free Staters serving in the NH Legislature for receiving the "General John Stark Protector of Freedom Award" and the "Ebeneezer Mudgett Champion of Freedom Award" from Americans for Prosperity this week.
Congratulations to Sen. Keith Murphy, Rep. Calvin Beaulier, Rep. Matt Drew, Rep. Erica Layon, Rep. Tom Mannion, Rep. Jason Osborne, Rep. Julius Soti, Rep. Jess Edwards, Rep. Dan McGuire, Rep. Carol McGuire, Rep. Alvin See, and Rep. Mark Warden (named in order of their photographs below).
It is amazing how far the Free State movement has come with so many liberty champions serving in the state legislature.
Porcupine Patron Update
UPDATE:
If you believe in our mission for a libertarian homeland in New Hampshire, I'd like to ask you to become a Porcupine Patron for the Free State Project.
For just $10/month, you can support our year-round efforts to build "Liberty in Our Lifetime" — outreaching and inviting new movers to join us in the Free State.
Additionally, you will receive exclusive patron benefits, including our quarterly print newsletter, access to our private Signal group, and perks at all FSP events.
We currently have 210 active patrons and we want to reach 300 by the end of this year.
Porcupine Patron Pin. In addition to other fantastic benefits, every Porcupine Patron of the Free State Project receives this "Porcupine Patron Pin." These pins are not just for show! Patron pins grant access to exclusive perks at all FSP events, including VIP rooms, patron-only events, and courtesy drink tickets. Click here to become a Porcupine Patron for the Free State Project.
It is my honor to serve as Executive Director of the FSP.
Please read on for more of our weekly newsletter from the Free State, prepared with assistance from our Communications Director, Mahgdalen Rose.
For Liberty!
Hon. Eric Brakey
Executive Director
Free State Project
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Are you ready to be an effective political activist to advance the cause of liberty?
Join us on Saturday, November 8th in Concord for a one-day political leadership school — hosted by the Free State Project and taught by the Foundation for Applied Conservative Leadership.
Learn the “Real Nature of Politics” and how to shape the political environment around politicians to make them do the right thing.
Native Free Stater, Derek Proulx, and his Hungarian girlfriend, Sara, will be teaching Hungarian folk dancing on Friday Oct 24th from 7-9pm in Manchester.
It's a lot of fun and they will break it down for beginner dancers. They are asking $10 to cover the space rental (but could be less depending on how many attend).
This November 9th, several friends with the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire are running in the Manchester City Marathon.
Under the team name, "LPNH for Defend The Guard," they are seeking to raise support and awareness for legislative efforts to bring our state National Guard troops home from foreign wars not declared by Congress.
If you would like to run with the team, email Rachel Goldsmith (or send her a text message) for details: goldsmithrd@gmail.com.
Recurring Free State Events
New Mover Potluck Parties!
Manchester - First Friday
Upper Valley - First Saturday
Seacoast - Third Sunday
North Country - Third Saturday
Local Meetups!
Manchester - weekly, Tuesdays
Plymouth - semi-monthly, second and fourth Wednesdays
Seacoast - weekly, Thursdays (changes town)
Upper Valley - monthly, fourth Tuesday
Nashua - weekly, Sundays
Gilford - monthly, third Saturday
Lancaster - monthly, third Saturday
Ossipee - semi-monthly, second Sunday and third Tuesday
Madison - monthly, second Saturday
Grafton - monthly, second Saturday
Keene - weekly, Sundays
Lower Valley - monthly, third Friday
This is only a small sample of what's going on in the Free State! Recurring topical events include agorism, family play time, range shooting, and crypto.
Find upcoming events across the state on our NH Liberty Calendar.
Free State Voices
Porcupine Report #78: “Fall Fest is Coming!” with Constance Spencer
(Originally aired 8/27/25) On this episode of The Porcupine Report, Eric sits down with Constance Spencer to dive into the magic of Fall Fest, one of the Free State community’s beloved traditions. What started as a simple corn maze hangout has grown into a full weekend of apple picking, ax throwing, hikes, and even the world’s largest arcade—all set against New Hampshire’s breathtaking autumn colors. Constance shares heartwarming stories and laughs from past years, painting a picture of freedom, family, and fun all rolled into one. Together, they discuss fond memories from past events, the importance of building connections, and why New Hampshire offers both freedom and the charm of New England living.
Jane Doe No More: Whistleblower Exposes Dark Underside of YDC Scandal (Manch Talk 10/01/25)
Lisa, a Manchester native, joins Manch Talk to share her firsthand account of life inside New Hampshire’s scandal-rocked Youth Detention Center in the 1990s. She recalls the campus, her cell, and the harsh environment that set her on a path toward addiction. But Lisa’s story doesn’t end there. Clean since 2004, she’s now a proud mom with a son heading to St. Anselm, a successful business owner, and a guide to other women through her Tarot work. Lisa is speaking out now because of troubling changes to the deal with victims—and why she feels silence is no longer an option.
Jason Sorens: "I Was a Victim of Cancel Culture. Don’t Perpetuate It."
"Activists from the left have tried to “cancel” me multiple times. I lost an academic job opportunity despite the support of a large majority of the department and the dean because two self-described Marxists in the department threatened to “go to war” if I were given an offer (the search committee chair told me this!). An elected official tried at least twice to get me fired from different jobs by calling the Board of Trustees and the executive leadership of my employers. When that didn’t work, he called my wife’s employer and accused her of belonging to a militia.
"Given these experiences, you might think I would cheer demands by some on the right to start 'canceling the left...'
"The whole controversy is yet another opportunity for the nationalist New Right to accuse the traditional right of timidity, of being too bound by norms of civility and adherence to the Constitution. In this case, they have a kernel of plausibility: if those who practiced cancel culture in the first instance never suffer any consequences for their overreach, what is their incentive not to do it again when they have the opportunity?
"The fatal flaw in the pro-cancellation right’s position is its collectivization of the left. If cancellations are justified only in retaliation for previous cancellations, then they need to be directed toward those individuals who carried out cancellations, not the more than 100 million Americans who might identify as left-of-center. I haven’t heard even allegations that Jimmy Kimmel ever got anyone fired for his political views..."
Free State Project: We Came. We Saw. We Trekked. (Last Week's FSP Newsletter)
Wall Street Journal: New Hampshire Sparks a Revolution in Electricity Supply
Cato Institute: New Hampshire Shows How to Unleash Electricity for the AI Era
NH Bulletin: Some Massachusetts doctors are sending patients to New Hampshire for imaging. Here’s why.
The Dartmouth: New Hampshire abstains from new public health collaborative
Union Leader: Drug deaths in NH dropped 33% in 2024, new study shows
WMUR: Cooler air in place for now in New Hampshire
MPD: New Hampshire Book Festival Returns
WMUR 9: Second New Hampshire Frank Lloyd Wright house named to National Register of Historic Places
WMUR: New Hampshire foliage map: New colors developing each day in North Country, some colors emerging elsewhere
World Atlas: 10 Most Charming Town Squares In New Hampshire
PorcFest XXII
We have been publishing content from this year's Porcupine Freedom Festival.
Just as we did earlier this year with the NH Liberty Forum, we will be publishing PorcFest content on a rolling basis, several times a week, across multiple social media platforms. Please find below all content published since our last newsletter!
You can find all video content from FSP events on YouTube and all audio-only content on our Spotify podcast channel: "FSP Talks."
The Dark Age Hypothesis with Steve Patterson
Steve Patterson presents his "Dark Age Hypothesis," arguing that much of modern science and academia may be built on shaky or even fraudulent foundations. He highlights the replication crisis, corruption in medical research, and examples like the flawed lipid hypothesis and the retracted Alzheimer’s plaque study as evidence of systemic problems. Patterson also explores issues in biology with contaminated cell lines, archaeological discoveries that challenge orthodox history, and physics concepts that undermine long-held assumptions. He traces many of these problems back to intellectual shifts between 1870–1950, where new paradigms in mathematics and physics destabilized certainty. To address this, Patterson is launching the Natural Philosophy Institute and the Dark Age Research Project, aiming to identify and catalog errors in modern knowledge. He ends with cautious optimism, suggesting that the internet and independent research may help shorten the cycle of scientific self-correction and lead us out of this intellectual “dark age.”
State vs. Federal Citizenship: Eliminate Your Income Tax Liability with Christopher Gronski
Christopher Gronski takes the stage at PorcFest to explain what he calls the “unknown choice” between state and federal citizenship. He argues that most people unknowingly create their own income tax liability by identifying as federal citizens, when under the Constitution they could instead be considered state citizens with no such obligation. Drawing from case law, constitutional clauses, and decades of personal work with clients, he claims that understanding jurisdiction is the key to eliminating income tax burdens. Gronski emphasizes the importance of paperwork, contracts, and definitions in determining one’s legal status. He presents his organization’s workshops as a path to reclaiming financial independence and avoiding unnecessary entanglements with the IRS. The talk challenges assumptions about freedom, taxation, and government authority.
This One Weird Trick will Cure All Our Problems with Schools with Ian Underwood
Longtime Free Stater Ian Underwood delivers a provocative talk on why decades of education reforms have failed to improve student outcomes. He shows how spending has skyrocketed while test scores remain flat, arguing that schools operate on a flawed “pay and pray” model where money flows regardless of results. Instead, he proposes adopting the standard commerce model used everywhere else—paying only for measurable learning after it occurs. Pointing to examples like New Hampshire’s Virtual Learning Academy, he shows that this system is already possible in practice. Underwood challenges parents, taxpayers, and legislators to rethink how we fund education if we truly want better results.
As Seen In the Free State
Taproom Tuesday! Free State friends gather for good times, good food, and good people each Tuesday at Murphy's Taproom in Manchester.
6th Annual Light and Liberty! FSP Director Brakey stopped by to visit and break bread with Free Staters on their annual spiritual retreat at Roger's Campground in Lancaster.
Autumn, without communism! A beautiful day and the federal government is shut down! What more could any Free Stater ask for?
Rucking in the Free World! Nearly two dozen turned out this week for the weekly Granite Ruck. Who would want to miss out this time of year with fall foliage overhead and crunching beneath your feet?
Bowling with Friends! A huge turnout at last night's Free State Concord Social. That's a strike! (The good kind.)
A beautiful New Hampshire sunrise! Dawn is breaking on a new generation of peace, prosperity, and liberty in the Free State.
Some Upcoming Events
Friday, Oct 3rd
Manchester, 7pm-10 - New Mover Potluck - All liberty lovers are invited to join us in welcoming the newest movers of the great liberty migration! Even if you have been here for a while and this is your first opportunity to join the community, come on down! We want to welcome you home as a new mover. New movers eat free! (the Quill, 131 Amory St, Manchester)
Saturday, Oct 4th
Lancaster, 10am-1pm - The ‘Pine Market Day - Bring a table and sell your wares the First Saturday each month! During the summer, this is the same time as the Lancaster Farmer's Market, so may attract some local foot traffic. Table space is free for the 'Pine members; $10 for non-members. Hosted by Amy Norris. (the 'Pine Clubhouse - 70 Main St, 2nd floor, Lancaster)
Manchester, 11:30am-1pm - Merrimack Valley Porcupines - Every first Saturday folks who are passionate about liberty gather for MVP, the Merrimack Valley. Hosted by Jeremy Olson. (the Quill, 131 Amory St, Manchester)
Lancaster, 4pm-7 - Free State Acoustics Performance - Gather at The 'Pine for a full three-set show closing out the summer season with the peak leaf colors. Free State Acoustics is a four piece band playing a wide variety of interesting songs from the 1950s through today in their own acoustic-focused style developed out of PorcFest fireside jams and public performances for music lovers. Free for The 'Pine members ($5 donation for non-members). Hosted by Amy Norris. (the 'Pine Clubhouse - 70 Main St, 2nd floor, Lancaster)
Croydon, 5pm-9 - Bardo Potluck & Upper Valley New Mover Party - Join the Bardo crew, friends and neighbors for an evening of socializing and good food. Potluck dinner is at 5pm, please bring a dish to share. Hosted by Emily Smith. (Bardo Farm, 92 Forehand Rd, Croydon)
Sunday, Oct 5th
Candia, 1:15pm-3:15 - Gruck: Granite Ruck - Rucking is the act of walking with weight on your back. It’s a low impact exercise based on military training workouts that improves cardio, strength, endurance, and character. This is a challenge by choice event, go as heavy or as far as you’re enthusiastic about. Whether you come for camaraderie or to test your mettle, as long as you come in peace, you’re welcome! Hosted by Michael Rohan. (Garnet School, 456 Critchett Rd, Candia)
Manchester, 5pm-7:30 - Manchester Crypto Meetup - We’re not trying to shill any coin, token, or project. We are a group of individuals and businesses in support of cryptocurrency and its everyday uses. Hosted by Matt Ping. (Strange Brew Tavern, 88 Market St, Manchester)
Keene, 5pm-6 - Social Sunday - Enjoy the company of other liberty-loving people at NH's longest-running activist social! Hosted by Chris Wade. (Local Burger, 82 Main St, Keene)
Nashua, 6pm-8 - Nashua Liberty Social - Weekly Nashua Meet-Up - Location varies each week. This calendar event is typically updated by 2PM on Sunday. Meet-ups are generally within about a 10 minute drive of the downtown area. Hosted by Jeff Creem.
Remember that this is only a partial list.
For all FSP events and more details on those highlighted here, be sure to check out the NH Liberty Calendar.