New Hampshire Lags Behind in Solar Power Adoption, Despite Advocate Calls for Change

New Hampshire is one of the leading states in the Northeast, yet it lags behind the rest of New England in its adoption of solar power, with only about 2% of electricity generated through solar as of spring 2025. While advocates, including Sen. David Watters and Dan Weeks, vice president of business development at ReVision Energy, argue that expanding solar is a straightforward way to reduce energy costs and increase renewable energy capacity, the state's historical reticence around developing solar infrastructure has hindered its growth. The debate centers around the extent to which the state should encourage solar development through subsidies and other incentives, with some arguing that ratepayers should not bear the cost.

Key Takeaways:

• New Hampshire has approximately 2% of its electricity generated through solar power as of spring 2025, far less than the other New England states' average of about 15%.
• Sen. David Watters argues that solar is a low-hanging fruit for renewable energy and reducing costs for New Hampshire residents.
• Rep. Michael Vose opposes subsidies for solar development, citing concerns that they unfairly shift the cost burden onto ratepayers.
• The state's past measures to encourage energy development have not been effective, with House Bill 609, signed by Sununu in July 2024, being an example of a bill that streamlined the site approval process for proposed energy projects.
• New Hampshire Consumer Advocate Donald Kreis attributes the state's lack of solar development to its failure to aggressively court developers and invest in renewable energy infrastructure.
• The state's renewable energy fund has been cut by about $15 million, leaving about $1 million per year available for investing in renewable energy.
• Some incremental developments, such as a possible bill to streamline the adoption of portable solar panels, may be on the horizon.
• Advocates hope that the state will revisit net metering, which allowed for projects to be guaranteed participation until 2040 but is now uncertain.

Statistics:

• 2% of electricity in New Hampshire is generated through solar power as of spring 2025.
• New England's average is 15% of electricity generated through solar power.
• $43.5 million in federal "Solar for All" program funding was rescinded.
• $15 million was cut from the state's renewable energy fund.
• About $1 million per year will be available in the fund for investing in renewable energy.
• $8.2 million was saved by consumers in peak electricity pricing in June 2025 due to a buffer from behind-the-meter solar.
• About $170 per month is the average monthly electric bill in New Hampshire, with $1.70 per month being the increase in energy bills for customers who do not use net metering.

Sources:

• (https://seia.org/solar-state-by-state/)
• (https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=table_5_06_a)
• (https://canarymedia.com/articles/enn/gov-sununus-veto-clouds-solars-future-in-new-hampshire-advocates-say)
• (https://newhampshirebulletin.com/briefs/sununu-vetoes-net-metering-expansion-bill-over-drafting-error-cost-shift-concerns/)
• (https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2022/09/30/what-is-net-metering-worth-in-new-hampshire/)
• (https://acadiacenter.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Fact-Sheet-June-30-2025-Grid-Action-Report-June-Heat-Wave.pdf)
• (https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/billText.aspx?sy=2024&id=391&txtFormat=html)
• (https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/residential-clean-energy-credit)
• (https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/07/09/new-hampshire-budget-guts-renewable-energy-fund-cuts-project-funding-in-half/)
• (https://www.energy.nh.gov/news-and-media/new-hampshire-receive-over-43-million-solar-all-grants)
• (https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/08/08/repub/trump-epa-claws-back-7b-in-solar-funding-already-promised-to-states/)