There is a bill, Senate Bill 446, in front of our Legislature that will help expand solar electric energy in our state.
Our state does not have any coal, natural gas or petroleum resources, but we do have solar. Utility companies tell us we need more electric energy to meet our future needs. They are pushing forward pipelines and transmission lines to meet these needs. These pipeline and transmission lines will bring in energy from out of state, and the profits produced will go to stockholders that are also mostly out of state.
When we produce solar energy in our own communities, the savings stay in our community. Some utilities and fossil fuel companies have stated that people with solar arrays on their roofs increase the electric rate of those without solar. Study after study by public utility commissions have reported that at current levels solar actually decreases the electric rates for everyone.
There is a point when solar becomes so dominant that the current benefit it gives to all ratepayers will diminish and impose new costs to the grid for all ratepayers. Most reports think the inflection point for this comes when solar is over 10 to 15 percent of our electric generation. We are currently producing less than 1 percent of our electricity from solar in New Hampshire.
Senate Bill 446 will help us bring this percentage to somewhere near 3 percent.
DOUGLAS SMITHWOOD
Wolfeboro