Renewable Energy Coalition Calls for New Hampshire Compromise

A group of New Hampshire renewable energy advocates have proposed a compromise that offers a path forward for the state to begin driving down energy costs for consumers and making New Hampshire less dependent on out of state energy.

The Energy Future Coalition in its filing to the New Hampshire Public Utility Commission (PUC) said its goal is to achieve compromise using a proven, data-driven approach to enable lower energy costs for consumers, continued economic growth and job creation for the state. By acting on this proposal, the PUC would position New Hampshire as a clean energy leader. Utility Dive’s Krysti Shallenberger wrote about the effort at compromise in a story published this morning.

The Energy Future Coalition is an alliance of local and national solar businesses, energy industry representatives and clean energy advocates seeking to find a New Hampshire-specific solution that is good for local consumers, utilities, and businesses alike.

New Hampshire policymakers demonstrated tremendous leadership last year by signing HB 1116 into law and doubling the state’s solar net metering cap — net metering is a policy that enables the right to self generation and fair credit for power sent back to the grid. The bill also initiated the state’s PUC to launch a 10-month proceeding to explore the future of clean energy policy in New Hampshire.

“The solar industry is offering a significant, good faith compromise and a path forward to reach a more modern, efficient, cheaper grid that benefits all ratepayers and helps to lower our state’s high energy costs,” said Dan Clapp, Partner at New Hampshire-based ReVision Energy. “This common sense, data driven settlement will foster more innovation, enable more growth across our economy and create more clean energy jobs right here in the Granite State.”