NEW HAMPSHIRE
SEPA
New Hampshire
Renewable Energy and
Energy Efficiency Incentives
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RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW Hampshire Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Incentives
Climate change and energy security are major challenges of our time and the
environmental implications are as much local as they are global. Reducing our use of
fossil fuel-based energy reduces greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate
change. EPA New England is providing this resource fact sheet as a starting point for
residential, municipal and commercial energy consumers. It outlines the federal, state
and utility incentives for energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy.
(Ml) UNHbuUngs received Energy Star
plaques, photo courtesy of EPA New England
(center) Energy efficient atrium, photo
courtesy of Gary Hall Photography
bytiodieselfuel, photo courtesy
of Cranmore Mountain
Federal
Energy Efficient &
Energy Improvement Mortgages
Credits a home's energy efficiency in the mortgage itself
Gives borrowers the opportunity to finance cost-effective,
energy-saving measures
Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEM) fund new homes that are
already energy efficient
Energy Improvement Mortgages (EIM) allow borrowers to
include the cost of energy-efficiency improvements in
existing homes without increasing the down payment
Sponsored by federally insured mortgage programs
Visit energystar.gov - enter "Mortgage" in the search box
Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credits
Credit available for systems placed in service by 12/31/2016:
Applies to qualified systems for photovoltaics, solar water heat, wind,
fuel cells, geothermal heat pumps, solar electric technologies.
Credit is up to 30% of the cost.
Credit limit:
No limit on solar photovoltaic electric systems
$2,000 for solar water heating
$500 per O.SkW for small wind (<100kW) up to $4,000
$500 per O.SkW for fuel cells
$2,000 for geothermal heat pumps
Visit dsireusa.org - click "Federal Incentives," then scroll
to "Personal TaxCredit" and clickon "Residential Renewable
Energy Tax Credit"
Residential Energy Efficiency Tax Credits
Credit available until 12/31/2009:
Applies to qualified water heaters, furnaces, boilers, heat pumps, air
conditioners, building insulation, windows, doors, roofs, circulating fans used
in qualifying furnaces, stoves that use biomass fuel to heat a home or to heat
water. Credit is up to 10% of cost of building envelope improvements, or up
to 100% for qualified energy property.
Credit limit:
No more than $500 for all improvements combined
$50 for advanced main air circulating fans
$150 for natural gas, propane or oil furnace or hot water boilers
$200 for windows
$300 for electric heat pump water heaters
$300 for electric heat pumps
$300 for central air conditioners
$300 for natural gas, propane or oil water heaters
$300 for biomass stoves
Visit energystar.gov - enter "Tax Credits" in the search box
Residential and Corporate Energy
Conservation Subsidy Exclusion
Electric utility customers joining an energy conservation
program may receive a:
Reduction in the purchase price of electricity
. Non-refundable credit against the price of electricity
Rate reduction that is not included in income and not taxable
Visit dsireusa.org - click "Federal Incentives," then scroll to
"Corporate Exemption" and clickon "Residential Energy
Conservation Subsidy Exclusion (Corporate)" or scroll to
"Personal Exemption" and clickon "Residential Energy
Conservation Subsidy Exclusion (Personal)"
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
Promotes energy efficiency/renewable energy for agricultural
producers and rural small business
Grant program open to commercial, schools, local, state and
tribal governments, rural electric cooperatives, agricultural,
public power sectors
Maximum limitof grant equals 25% of projectcostwithvariouscaps
Visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill
Tribal Energy Program
Federal grant program to promote tribal energy efficiency with
eligible systems, including passive solar space heat, solar
space and water heat, photovoltaics
Visit eere.energy.gov/tribalenergy
Visit puc.state.nh.us -click on "Sustainable Energy," then
"Renewable Energy Rebates," then select "Residential systems
under 5 kilowatts"
State
Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy
Passive solar space heat, solar water heat, solar space heat,
photovoltaics, wind, wood-fired central heating systems
Open to residential sector
Property tax exemption in the amount of the assessed value
of the renewable-energy system
Visit nh.gov/oep - click on "Renewable Energy Incentives"
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Business Loan
For structural and equipment improvements that can reduce
energy consumption
Open to commercial (small business) sector
Low-interest loans of $10,000 or more, with a prime rate minus
1% for a 7-year term
Businesses use the revenue from energy efficient systems to
pay back the loan
Visit nheconomy.com - enter "Business Loan" in the
search box
Renewable Energy Rebate Program
(available beginning July 2009)
Photovoltaics, wind
Open to residential sector
For qualifying systems:
. One-time incentive payment of $3 per watt
. Max amount $6,000 or 50% of system costs,
whichever is less
Eligible systems:
. <5kW
Must be located at the owner's residence
Utility
New Hampshire Electric Co-Op
Low-income Energy Assistance
Clothes washers/dryers, dishwasher, refrigerators/freezers,
lighting, programmable thermostats, caulking/weather-
stripping, duct/air sealing, building insulation, windows, doors
Grant program open to low-income residential sector
Grant comes in the form of products or services, up to $3,600
Applicants must qualify as co-op member and meet
income guidelines
Visit nhec.com/residential_energyassistance_home.php
New Hampshire Electric Co-OpSmartSTART Energy
Efficiency Loan Program
Energy efficient lighting, duct/air sealing, building insulation,
custom/others pending approval
Open to residential and commercial sectors
No money down options
Loan payments equal to two-thirds of the monthly savings
realized through the energy efficiency measure(s) will be applied
to customer's utility bill
Visit nhec.com/business_energysolutions_smartstart.php
PSNH Municipal SmartSTART Energy
Efficiency Loan Program
Energy efficient customized plans
Open to municipalities/local governments
A monthly charge less than the monthly savings is added to the
municipal facility's monthly electric bill until all costs are repaid
Visit psnh.com/Energy/Business_Efficiency/PaySave.asp
PSNHEnergy Rewards RFP Program
Incentives for achieving energy savings through installation of
energy efficient measures or products
Competitive grant program open to commercial and
industrial sectors
Minimum energy demand of eligible facilities must be 350kW
Minimum total project cost must be $200,000
Visit psnh.com/Business/Efficiency/Rewards.asp
New Hampshire Electric Co-op -
Solar and Wind Energy Rebate Program
Solar water heat, photovoltaics, wind
Open to residential, commercial, nonprofit, schools, agricultural,
institutional sectors continued >
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RENEWABLE ENERGY INCENTIVES
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Utility, cnnt'd
System must be installed by qualified installer
Rebate up to 25% of installed project costs for solar water heat
and wind, $3.00 per installed watt (DC) for photovoltaics
Maximum incentive is $5,000 for wind, $3,500 for
photovoltaics, $1,500 for solar hot water
Visit smallsteps.coop/coop_programs/
National GridSolar Thermal Rebate Program
Solar water heat, solar space heat, solar thermal process heat
Open to residential/multi-family, commercial, industrial sectors
Residential customers receive 15% of project costs, with a cap
of $1,500 for solar water heating systems
Non-residential customers receive up to 50% of project costs,
with a cap of $100,000 per project
Must be National Grid customer
Visit thinksmartthinkgreen.com for geographic coverage
State Contacts
New Hampshire
Office of Energy and Planning
Joe Broyles
(603) 271-8341
joseph.broyles@nh.gov
New Hampshire
Business Resource Center
(603) 271-2591
New Hampshire
Public Utilities Commission
(603) 271-2431
Federal Contacts
US Department of Agriculture
REAP Grant
(800) 670-6553
US Environmental Protection Agency
EPA New England
Cynthia Veit
(617) 918-1666
veit.cynthia@epa.gov
John Moskal
(617) 918-1826
moskal.john@epa.gov
ENERGY STAR Product Rebates
ENERGY STAR partners occasionally sponsor special offers,
such as sales tax exemptions or credits, or rebates on
qualified products
Visit energystar.gov - enter "Rebate" in the search box
Multiple Energy Efficiency Products Incentives
Many state and local energy providers offer residents
and businesses rebates and other incentives on energy
efficient appliances and products such as water heaters,
lighting, boilers, etc.
Visit dsireusa.org -click on "NH," then scroll to
"Utility Rebate Programs" to find your provider:
. National Grid . PSNH
New Hampshire Electric Co-op . Unitil
Northern Utilities
Success Stories
Universitythe University of New Hampshire in Durham
earned Energy Star labels for five of its campus buildings. Through energy
conservation efforts, UNH saved money and reduced harmful air pollution,
including greenhouse gases. Over several decades, UNH has incorporated
many energy-efficiency measures into the design and operation of campus
buildings. Through a series of retrofits and educational programs, it is
estimated that the university saves $4 million annually in energy compared
to the national average. Facility management efforts include energy-
smart lighting, revamped building control systems and energy education
for maintenance and operations staff as well as the broader university
community. Story from energy.unh.edu/News2.htm
Non-ProfitBy installing photovoltaic solar panels and a renewable
wood-chip heating system, the Society for Protection of New Hampshire
Forests has cut energy bills at its Concord, NH, headquarters by 23 percent.
The nonprofit group has also opened a new 11,400 square foot wing built with
native green-certified lumber and a super-insulated airtight exterior shell
that uses 60 percent less energy than comparably-sized buildings. Story from
forestsociety.org/ourproperties/ac-conservation-center.asp
Ski ResortIn 2004 Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH, became
the first ski resort on the east coast to use biodiesel fuel to power its snow
grooming machines. This project is a collaboration of the NH Department
of Environmental Services and the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition,
a statewide partnership aimed at increasing the use of alternative fuels
across New Hampshire.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
EPA901-F-09-009
April 2009
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