As New Hampshire’s largest local solar installer, we are proud to have seen our business grow by leaps and bounds as the cost of our product (solar panels) declined by more than 75 percent in the last 10 years, a perfect antidote to two of our state’s most pressing problems: high energy costs and an environmental crisis caused by reliance on fossil fuels. We hired 16 new full-time employees in 2015 (45 total) and will continue hiring this year if the Legislature raises the arbitrary cap on retail net metering and allows us to meet market demand for our product.

In its October 2015 report, the Acadia Center found that solar energy backfed to New Hampshire’s utility grid is worth between 19-24 cents per kilowatt-hour, plus an additional 6.7 cents per kilowatt-hour of societal benefits. This finding corresponds to similar studies in Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts, acknowledging solar’s “unique value to the electric grid by reducing energy demand, providing power during peak periods, and avoiding generation and related emissions charges from conventional power plants.”

Retail net metering is not a subsidy. It is, if anything, below market compensation for solar generators. We trust that New Hampshire’s legislators, when they thoughtfully consider the issue, will come to the same conclusion as our neighbors Vermont and Massachusetts, who increased their retail net metering caps. Solar is good for business, good for ratepayers and good for New Hampshire’s environment. Utility companies should modernize and take advantage of distributed grid technologies, not fight them to sustain a 20th-century business model.

It is time to set the record straight on net energy metering.

The New Hampshire CleanTech Council and the Granite State Hydropower Association, which represents hundreds of businesses and thousands of employees across New Hampshire, want to explain what net metering is and why it is creating jobs and putting dollars in the pockets of Granite State families and businesses.

What is net metering? Net metering is either a billing arrangement or a reimbursement arrangement for electricity generated by solar, wind, hydropower or cogeneration that is used to meet the needs of a residence, a municipality, a group of people or a business.

How much does a net metered solar system cost and what does it produce? A typical home solar system costs about $20,000. Even if you don’t have cash up front, you can take out a loan or sign a lease, usually at no up-front cost if you choose. Incentives and tax credits are available.

If you put a solar system on your home’s roof, it will generate power for about 8 or 9 hours each day in the summer and for about five hours each day in the winter. Net metering allows you to build a bank of energy credit on your monthly electric bill that you spend in some months and save during others. There is no payment made or exchanged for small systems. Net metering allows your neighbor to reap the benefits of the excess clean renewable power your home solar panels generated while you save money on your electric bill. Everyone wins.

While attention is fixed on the New Hampshire primary,
Granite Staters of all political stripes support a clean energy future.

This year, like every four years, the nation watches New Hampshire as Granite Staters pepper the presidential candidates about every possible issue. Right now, across our state, they’re asking questions you’d expect about national security, the economy and immigration.

But they’re also asking about energy and climate.

When the votes are all cast and the national press moves on to the next big state, we’ll still be talking about clean energy. Republicans and Democrats alike.

Here are four ways that New Hampshire demonstrates that we don’t just choose presidents. We can lead the way on the critical energy policies facing the nation, if we work together the New Hampshire way.

Bi-Partisan Support. In New Hampshire, support for clean energy and action on climate change is strong and bipartisan. Polling on energy issues and climate routinely shows support for the kinds of policies that will directly reduce climate emissions. Recent examples include an August 2015 survey that found that 68 percent of New Hampshire residents believe that climate change is a serious problem and 66 percent believe that the policies included in the Clean Power Plan represent a good approach to the problem.In December, 72 percent of New Hampshire Republican primary voters stated that it’s important for presidential candidates to have a clean energy plan and 74 percent want increased usage of renewable energy and decreased use of coal.While public support for these energy goals is strong, as in any other state, sometimes our elected officials lag in reading the public sentiment. We expect that as public support remains consistently strong, the “leaders” will follow their constituents toward clean energy solutions.