Published: 6/4/2020 12:01:20 AM
The New Hampshire House is expected to vote June 11 on House Bill 1218, which would expand the ability of businesses, schools and municipalities to generate renewable electricity. Under current law, net metering is available only for generators of up to 1 megawatt (MW) or 1,000 kilowatts. A large business, school or municipality can generate renewable electricity – hydro, solar, wind or biomass – for its own use, but cannot benefit from net energy exports to the grid at the “large customer-generator” rate set by the PUC . If renewable energy is to be increased, net metering for larger-sized generators is essential.
HB 1218, sponsored by five Democrats and five Republicans, would raise the current 1 MW cap on net metering to 5 MW and businesses, schools, municipalities and the state will benefit in many ways:
■Providing increased clean, renewable, home-grown energy.
■Creating clean tech jobs and economic development.
■Encouraging choice, competition, and independence in retail energy markets.
■Enabling businesses, schools and municipalities to save real money by generating their own clean power and earning income from selling excess energy.
Similar net metering bills were passed by the Legislature in 2018 and 2019 but were vetoed by Gov. Sununu. Last year, the veto override attempt failed by just six votes. To build strong bipartisan support for HB 1218 in the House vote on June 11, please contact your legislators to urge them to vote yes on HB 1218 to advance clean, reliable, affordable energy in New Hampshire. Find your legislators’ contact information at: gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/default.aspx.
RUSS WILDER
Alton Bay