New Hampshire
Financial Incentives
Loan Programs: The New Hampshire Business Finance Authority oversees a revolving loan
program for businesses in the state to finance energy efficiency upgrades. All businesses,
including nonprofits, are eligible to apply for loans of $100,000 or more.1 The New Hampshire
Community Development Finance Authority administers two revolving loan programs, the
Enterprise Energy Fund, which helps business owners and nonprofits make energy
improvements on their buildings,2 and the Municipal Energy Reduction Fund, which helps
municipal governments invest in energy efficient technology.3 Low-interest loans of $10,000 or
more are available through the New Hampshire Business Resource Center to small businesses to
finance energy efficiency projects.4
Rebates: The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) administers a rebate program
for PV systems and small wind turbines placed into service on or after September 30, 2009. The
rebate is equal to $1.25 per watt of generation capacity per residential owner of an eligible
facility, up to $4,500 or 50 percent of system costs, whichever is less. PV systems must have a
peak generation capacity of less than 5 kW, must be located at the owner’s residence, and must
be certified as meeting UL 1703 by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory. Small wind
turbines must have a manufacturer’s rated maximum output of less than 5 kW (at wind speed of
11 meters per second) and be located at the owner’s residence.5 New Hampshire also provides
rebates for new residential hot water heaters, boilers, and furnaces that replace existing, lessefficient systems;6 solar water heaters that replace existing hot water heaters;7 and residential
bulk-fed, wood-pellet central heater boilers or furnaces.8 Rebates are available for nonresidential
solar PV and solar thermal installations served by an IOU or rural electric utility that is required
to comply with the state’s RPS.9
Other Financial Incentives: New Hampshire has created a systems benefit charge (SBC) on
electric customers’ bills. Commercial programs funded by the SBC support new construction
and major renovations, lighting upgrades, occupancy sensors, controls, air conditioning
improvements, programmable thermostats, efficient motors, variable-frequency drives, energymanagement systems, LED traffic lights, and custom projects. Residential programs funded by
the SBC support Energy Star lighting and appliances, Energy Star new home construction,
insulation, thermostats and other efficiency measures. SBC programs for qualified low-income
residents provide funding for insulation, thermostats, lighting upgrades and efficient
refrigerators.10
Rules and Regulations
Renewable Portfolio Standard: Electricity providers other than municipal utilities must comply
with New Hampshire’s Electric Renewable Portfolio Standard.11 New Hampshire has designated
four classes of renewable resources, each with their own compliance schedules. Class I resources
include wind, geothermal, ocean thermal, wave, current, tidal, methane, certain biomass, and
hydrogen derived from biomass or methane, as well as energy efficiency savings from solar hot
water heating. Class I resources must have been installed in 2006 or later to be eligible for
compliance. Class II resources include solar generation facilities which began production in
2006 or later. Class III resources include biomass and methane facilities which began production
prior to 2006. Class IV resources include certain hydro facilities up to 5 MW which began
production prior to 2006.12 By 2025, RPS-obligated entities must procure 16 percent of their
retail load from Class I resources, 0.3 percent from Class II resources, 6.5 from Class III
resources, and 1 percent from Class IV resources.13
Facility Siting and Permitting: Property owners may create solar easements for access to solar
energy.14 New Hampshire has created a model solar easement form.15 New Hampshire has an
integrated wind and solar energy facility siting process. It provides for a site evaluation
committee consisting of members from a number of state agencies to avoid a duplication of
effort. All proposed generating facilities exceeding 30 MW in capacity require the approval of
the committee. Approval is contingent upon the applicant’s successful demonstration that a need
exists for the facility, evidence that the appropriate financial management to support the
proposed facility is in compliance, and that the facility will suitably comply with all pertinent
state public health, environmental, economic, and safety standards.16
Building Codes, Appliance, and Equipment Standards: The New Hampshire Energy Code for
residential and commercial buildings is a mandatory, statewide code that is based on the 2009
IECC.17
Electricity Transmission, Interconnection and Storage: All utilities selling power in New
Hampshire must provide, upon request, net metering to customers who generate electricity using
renewable energy systems with a capacity of up to 100 kW.18
Fuel Standards and Transportation: Each school district must develop and implement a policy
to minimize or eliminate emissions from buses, cars, delivery vehicles, maintenance vehicles,
and other motor vehicles used on school property.19
Government Procurement: Executive Order No. 2005-4 requires state agencies to reduce
energy use in buildings by 10 percent; purchase Energy Star equipment; ensure that all statefunded new construction and renovation projects exceed the state energy code by 20 percent in
terms of energy efficiency; implement a Clean Fleets Program requiring that all new passenger
and light-duty vehicles achieve a highway fuel economy rating of at least 27.5 mpg, and that all
new light-duty trucks achieve a highway fuel economy rating of at least 20 mpg, excluding
emergency and law enforcement vehicles; and implement an anti-idling policy for vehicles.20
Policies, Plans, and Governmental Affiliations
Policies and Plans: The New Hampshire Climate Action Plan recommends a long-term
reduction in GHG emissions of 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.21
Government Entities: Energy Planning Advisory Board, New Hampshire Business Finance
Authority,22 New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority,23 New Hampshire
Department of Environmental Services,24 New Hampshire State Building Code Review Board,25
New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission.26
Regional Memberships: New Hampshire is a member of RGGI.
1
N.H. Admin. Rules, PUC 2604; http://www.nhbfa.com/BFA_LoanPlans_BizEnergy.html.
http://www.nhcdfa.org/web/erp/eef/eef_overview.html.
3
http://www.nhcdfa.org/web/erp/merf/merf_overview.html.
4
http://www.nheconomy.com/business-services/energy-efficiency-programs.aspx.
5
N.H. Stat. § 362-F:10; House Bill 229 (2009); NH PUC Order No. 24,985; NH PUC Order No. 25,020; House Bill
1270 (2010); http://www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/RenewableEnergyRebates-SREG.html.
6
http://www.nhsaves.com/HeatingRebate/.
7
http://www.puc.nh.gov/.
8
http://www.puc.nh.gov/.
9
N.H. Stat. § 362-F:10; N.H. Admin. Rules, PUC 2500; NH PUC Order No. 25,151;
http://www.puc.nh.gov/Sustainable%20Energy/RenewableEnergyRebates-CI.html.
10
N.H. Stat. § 374-F:3 et seq.; Senate Bill 300 (2010).
11
N.H. Stat. § 362-F:1 et seq.; N.H. Admin. Rules, PUC 2500;
http://www.puc.state.nh.us/Sustainable%20Energy/Renewable_Portfolio_Standard_Program.htm.
12
N.H. Stat. § 362-F:4.
13
N.H. Stat. § 362-F:3.
14
N.H. Stat. § 477:49 et seq.
15
N.H. Stat. § 477:51.
16
N.H. Stat. § 162-H:1 et seq.
17
http://www.nh.gov/safety/boardsandcommissions/bldgcode/nhstatebldgcode.html.
18
N.H. Stat. § 362-A:1-a; N.H. Stat. § 362-A:9; N.H. Admin. Rules, PUC 900;
http://www.nh.gov/oep/programs/energy/RenewableEnergyIncentives.htm.
19
House Bill 1265 (2010).
20
Executive Order No. 2005-4.
21
http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/air/tsb/tps/climate/action_plan/nh_climate_action_plan.htm.
22
http://www.nhbfa.com/.
23
http://www.nhcdfa.org/.
24
http://www.des.state.nh.us/.
25
http://www.nh.gov/safety/boardsandcommissions/bldgcode/.
26
http://www.puc.state.nh.us/.
2