The New Hampshire House of Representatives has passed H.B.1116, which would double the state’s current net energy metering cap from 50 MW to 100 MW.

Created in 2010, the current Net Metering Cap is 50 MW, with solar projects accounting for a large majority of participants.

Not long after Eversource and other utilities reached their respective limits earlier this year, the state Senate passed S.B.333, a bill that would raise the Cap to 75 MW. The House’s H.B.1116 originally called for a similar 25 MW increase, but lawmakers eventually added an amendment to lift the cap to 100 MW instead.

H.B.1116 will now go to the Senate for consideration.

Goveror Hassan has encouraged it passage. “Lifting the cap on net metering is essential to the continued success of New Hampshire’s solar industry, and I applaud the House for its bipartisan vote to pass this critical measure. The Senate has already supported this legislation, and I urge them to concur with the version passed by the House and send this bill to my desk as quickly as possible so that we can lift the cap on net metering.”

Let your State representatives know that you favor lifting the Net Metering Cap by emailing them today – jeb.bradley@leg.state.nh.us   (Chair, Energy & Natural Resources); Jerry.Little@leg.state.nh.us  (Vice-Chair, Energy & Natural Resources);  martha.fullerclark@leg.state.nh.us  (Member, Energy & Natural Resources); andy.sanborn@leg.state.nh.us   (Member, Energy & Natural Resources); Dan.Feltes@leg.state.nh.us  (Member, Energy & Natural Resources)

The post Are We There Yet? Progress on Raising the Net Metering Cap appeared first on NABCEP Solar Installation in NH, Maine, and Massachusetts | Harmony Energy Works.

Harmony Energy Works continues to assist farms and small businesses receive USDA REAP grants as part of their incentives for affordable solar. This spring, in the course of designing solar arrays for four of its clients – 959 Boys LLC, Conner Bottling Works, L.A. Brochu, and The Storage Barn, Harmony was able to write grant applications and successfully win for them $133,568 for their solar projects. All four of their grant applications were approved and the solar projects are currently being installed.  George Horrocks, President of Harmony Energy Works, has been involved in writing nearly 60 successful USDA REAP grants for solar projects over the past 6 years. The complexity of the REAP grant is such that the average application generally runs well over a hundred pages, so many farms and small businesses avoid the difficult process entirely. Harmony has an unrivaled expertise in the State for writing these energy grants.

For those interested in further information, please contact directly: George Horrocks, 603-926-3366, george.horrocks@harmonyenergyworks.com

See the story below….

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/STELPRD4024535.html

(SEPTEMBER 18, 2014) USDA AWARDS MORE THAN $160,000 TO FIVE NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESSES TO INSTALL 200 KILOWATTS OF SOLAR CAPACITY
CONCORD, N.H., Sep 18, 2014 — United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday that five New Hampshire small businesses will use $163,568 in USDA grants to install 200 kilowatts of solar capacity. The new solar projects will help reduce energy costs for the businesses and are estimated to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 180 homes a year.
“This funding will help rural small businesses improve their bottom line and improve our environment through the installation of new solar arrays,” said New Hampshire and Vermont State Director Ted Brady. “USDA Rural Development is helping to build sustainable rural communities one business at a time. These grants incentivize investment that helps businesses stay in the black and helps our country move towards energy independence.”

The competitively awarded grants cover up to 25 percent of a project’s cost. The $163,568 in federal funding will be matched with nearly $500,000 in other funding. During an event in North Carolina Thursday, Vilsack announced $68 million in USDA grants through the Rural Energy for America Program, recently reauthorized in the 2014 Farm, Foods and Jobs Bill.

Five New Hampshire businesses received grants:

959 Boys (Portsmouth): $26,270 will assist with the purchase and installation of a 28.28 kilowatt solar photovoltaic roof-mounted system offsetting the current electrical usage of three businesses by 99.64 percent.

Conner Bottling Works (Newfields): $49,921 will assist with the purchase and installation of a 43.68 kilowatt solar photovoltaic roof- and ground-mounted system offsetting current electrical usage by 100 percent.

Furlone (Spofford): $30,000 will assist with the purchase and installation of a 65.6 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system to offset current electrical usage by 92.5 percent at three rental properties.

L.A. Brochu Inc. (Concord): $37,477 will assist with the purchase and installation of a 37.8 kilowatt solar photovoltaic ground-mounted system offsetting current electrical usage by 108 percent.

The Storage Barn (Newington): $19,900 will assist with the purchase and installation of a 20.16 kilowatt solar photovoltaic roof-mounted system offsetting electrical usage by 100 percent.

The post Harmony Energy Works Announces Four USDA REAP Grants for Its Solar Customers appeared first on NABCEP Solar Installation in NH, Maine, and Massachusetts | Harmony Energy Works.

The USDA just announced the application deadline for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants. The grants cover 25% of the total cost of a solar installation for agricultural producers and small businesses in designated rural areas. This grant is in addition to the 30% Federal Tax credit and the state rebate. This years deadline for filing applications is July 7, 2014. Harmony Energy Works’ team will write your grant and handle all the grant paperwork for your solar array project. We have been very successful in getting these solar energy grants for our customers over the past few years.

Contact us for details, and let us get started with your solar project and grant application.

The post USDA REAP Grants Deadline Announced for 2014 Solar Projects appeared first on NABCEP Solar Installation in NH, Maine, and Massachusetts | Harmony Energy Works.

There are several impressive facts about this lake, like that is the largest lake in South America and the highest navigable lake in the world, or that it contains 44 or so “floating” island that house permanent residents even today. These islas are man-made constructions made from totora reeds that grow in the lake. Many serve as a stopping-point for tourists before heading to the lake’s more stable land masses.

Check out a few of the pictures below:

The post Solar Power on the Uros “Floating Islands” appeared first on NABCEP Solar Installation in NH, Maine, and Massachusetts | Harmony Energy Works.