The Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) is a nonprofit joint powers agency created to assist New Hampshire municipalities in their efforts to reduce electric rates, accelerate their transition to renewable electricity and gain a stronger voice at state and federal levels.
Peterborough is a member of CPCNH. As of today, there are 21 additional towns, four cities, and one county in CPCNH, representing 21 percent of New Hampshire’s population. Many additional municipalities are interested in joining. When Peterborough Community Power launches in mid-April, we’ll be getting our electricity from CPCNH.
Member municipalities enjoy numerous benefits. Among these are reduced electric rates, the possibility of increased renewable electricity, the possibility to stimulate local renewable electric generation, top electrical and energy experts on staff, active risk management, members actively participating in and contributing to CPCNH governance, having a local voice in our energy future and effective advocacy at the state and federal level.
As an example of the latter, the rules currently used by the NH Public Utilities Commission to regulate community power were largely written by Clifton Below, the current chair of the CPCNH board of directors. Without the planning and state-level advocacy of Below and CPCNH, there would be no possibility of launching Peterborough Community Power this April.
Joel Huberman, co-chair, Peterborough Community Power Committee
Peterborough