Granite Staters are facing a unique set of challenges and opportunities in energy. After decades of stagnant electricity demand in New Hampshire and across the United States, energy experts are now projecting electricity demand will nearly double by 2050. The primary drivers are data centers to power cloud computing and artificial intelligence, increasing adoption of electric vehicles, and electrification of heating and industrial processes through advanced heat pump and other technologies. To meet this growing demand while keeping prices affordable for New Hampshire families, there is an urgent need to deploy gigawatts of new, reliable electricity generation.
In recent years, solar photovoltaics with battery storage have become the cheapest and most deployable source of new energy in the United States and across the globe, representing the vast majority of new energy generation capacity installed. Comprehensive studies by the New Hampshire Department of Energy demonstrate that solar saves money for both the families and organizations that deploy it as well as for ratepayers at large, since solar projects deliver excess power to the grid when it is needed most. In spite of these broader trends and proven cost savings, New Hampshire has consistently lagged behind other states and the nation as a whole due to ideological opposition in Concord. New Hampshire currently derives 2.1% of its electricity from solar, a far cry from our neighboring states, which generate 17 to 26% of total electricity from the sun.
While lawmakers consider policies to enable community solar’s growth in New Hampshire, local families, businesses, nonprofits, and towns across the state are moving forward with projects of their own that directly offset their energy costs and dependence on imported fossil fuels. The Monadnock Area has long been a leader in solar deployment, with Peterborough, Keene, and other communities installing projects that meet their municipal needs. Jaffrey will soon host the state’s first low-income community solar farm on their capped landfill and Keene Housing has completed solar installations on dozens of affordable housing units. Although changes to federal incentives and utility practices are complicating the picture for new solar and storage deployment, the fundamental economic and environmental benefits remain unchanged, especially in the context of rising energy demand.
Dan Weeks is vice president of business development and employee-owner of ReVision Energy.