New Hampshire Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Incentives

Saving Green in the Granite State

The State of New Hampshire offers financial incentives for installing an alternative energy system such as solar or wind at your home. These incentives consist of a property tax exemption and the opportunity to receive a credit on your utility bill by selling the net excess energy you generate back to the utility company through the net metering system. Utility companies in New Hampshire offer rebates on the cost of installing an alternative energy system, the purchase of energy-efficient home appliances, and the cost of other energy conservation measures.

Property tax exemption

According to the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning, cities and towns in New Hampshire can offer exemptions from local property taxes on the assessed value of a renewable energy system you use at home. Systems that qualify for this property tax exemption include solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind, and central wood-fired heating systems, but not wood stoves or fireplaces.

On the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning website at www.nh.gov, on the Renewable Energy page under Local Incentives, you can find a link to a table showing the municipalities that have property tax exemptions in effect for renewable energy systems. If you live in a municipality that offers exemptions, you can apply for the exemption by completing New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration Form PA-29 - Permanent Application for Property Tax Credit/Exemptions. This form can be downloaded from the website www.nh.gov/revenue/forms.

Net metering

The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency reports that all electric utility companies in New Hampshire are required to offer net metering to homeowners and small businesses that generate electricity using renewable energy systems. Homeowners can receive credit on subsequent bills from the utility company when they generate more electricity than their households consume.