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You are here: Home / Solar In The Media / Fear of job cuts boosts solar program

Fear of job cuts boosts solar program

February 22, 2016 by solarfornh

Excerpt from “Fear of job cuts boosts solar program,” by Dave Solomon, published in the New Hampshire Union Leader.

UNION LEADER FILE Gov. Maggie Hassan, left, Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas and Executive Councilor Chris Pappas got a complimentary hard hat from SolarCity Regional Vice President Leon Keshishian, far right, at the dedication of the company's new operations center in Manchester in September. Lawmakers have proposed a plan to double the size of a program designed to encourage solar power installations.
UNION LEADER FILE Gov. Maggie Hassan, left, Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas and Executive Councilor Chris Pappas got a complimentary hard hat from SolarCity Regional Vice President Leon Keshishian, far right, at the dedication of the company’s new operations center in Manchester in September. Lawmakers have proposed a plan to double the size of a program designed to encourage solar power installations.

CONCORD — Hoping to avoid layoffs in the growing solar energy sector, lawmakers have decided to double the size of a program designed to encourage solar power installations.

The program, known as net metering, rewards owners of solar panels by allowing them to sell surplus electricity back into the grid and get credit on their electric bills, which offsets the cost of the panels.

New Hampshire households use about 4,000 megawatts on a hot summer day, but only 50 megawatts have been allowed into the net metering program for the past 10 years.

The state hit that limit a month ago, as solar took off in 2015, and has been struggling with the issue ever since. Lawmakers first drafted a bill, HB1116, raising the limit to 75 megawatts to give regulators time to figure out a long-term solution.

Solar industry lobbyists argued that the new limit of 75 megawatts would be quickly exhausted, and force them to lay off workers. State representatives apparently took heed, and on Feb. 17 the House Science Technology and Energy Committee voted 19-0 to amend HB1116 to allow up to 100 megawatts under existing rules.

The increase to 100 megawatts was proposed by Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, and Wilton State Rep. Frank Edelblut, R-Wilton, a candidate for governor. Gov. Maggie Hassan supports the increase, as does Eversource, the state’s largest utility.

More at http://www.unionleader.com/article/20160222/NEWS02/160229742

Filed Under: Solar In The Media

Solar Fun Facts

New Hampshire receives 30% more sun than Germany, a global leader when it comes to renewable energy with over 1 million solar systems installed. 

The number of solar installers is predicted to increase more than almost any other job over the next seven years, making the solar industry one of the fastest growing sources of employment in the United States. 

The cost of solar panels has dropped by almost 65% over the past decade. 

Planned investments in clean energy are expected to double by 2030, potentially mobilizing an additional $1 trillion in private capital. 

Covering just 1% of New Hampshire with solar panels would be enough to supply the entire state’s energy needs indefinitely. 

solar in the media

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  • Hitting the cap: Industry, utilities, lawmakers debate changes to renewable energy net metering limits March 3, 2016
  • Fear of job cuts boosts solar program February 22, 2016