Helping New Hampshire Achieve Its 25 x 25 Goal

Renewable Energy Incentives, Energy Metering, and Energy Conservation Incentives
PRS Briefs
PRS Policy Brief 0910-09
Monday, May 24, 2010
Alexandra
E.
Mahler-Haug
Elizabeth
B.
Mitchell

New Hampshire’s “Renewable Portfolio Standards” legislation sets the goal that by 2025 a quarter of the energy used in the state will be generated from renewable resources. Currently, approximately nine percent of the energy consumed in the state is produced by renewable sources. Even though this compares favorably to the national average of seven percent, New Hampshire is still far from its goal of 25 percent by 2025.

This report outlines three methods New Hampshire could use to achieve its goal and increase its production and use of renewable energy. First, it describes financial incentive programs that could be used to encourage consumers to install renewable energy devices as a mechanism for increasing New Hampshire’s production of renewable energy. Second, it explains options for reimbursing residents and businesses that own renewable energy devices and supply their surplus energy back to the grid. Third, it describes programs that could be used to encourage consumers to invest in energy conservation or weatherization projects as a mechanism for decreasing New Hampshire’s total energy consumptions. This report also examines underused incentives already present in New Hampshire to see how their appeal could be broadened and brought into the general public’s consciousness. Each of these sections suggest different policies that New Hampshire could adopt to make better use of its natural resources and to increase its use of renewable energy, while decreasing its overall energy consumption.