NH CleanTech, Granite State Hydro Form Alliance

AMHERST, NH - The NH CleanTech Council and Granite State Hydropower Association are excited to announce a new alliance, according to a press statement. Seeing a growing opportunity for collaboration on critical issues facing New Hampshire’s energy landscape, the organizations have joined one another’s membership to better lead NH forward on issues that include fair market rates for distributed generation, net energy metering, better competition, and increased consumer choice.

“This is a great move for us,” said Kate Epsen of NHCTC, “small, in-state hydro is a key player in the NH clean tech market. Our members share the same concerns as GSHA members, and we can do more together.”

Dick Norman, the president of GSHA stated that “GSHA welcomes the opportunity to join with the NHCTC. The renewable industry has been fragmented. By coordinating our organization’s resources we will become a stronger, more effective participant in the many regulatory and legislative proceedings that will determine the future role of renewables in our state’s diverse and growing energy industry.”

Increasingly, small hydro and solar facilities are receiving compensation rates that are out of line with the value of the generation and the value of the resource. While hydro facilities struggle to remain operational due to under-market energy rates, both solar and hydro facilities struggle to connect their power with consumers due to outdated laws and regulations.

Distributed energy resources offer great economic and environmental value to our state – hydro, solar, wind, biomass, just to name some--each have an important role to play in a strong clean energy future. Hampering the development of new resources and the operation of existing resources is out of step with what people and businesses want. Together, GSHA and NHCTC will continue to advocate for policies and practices that enable these resources, improve competition in our energy markets, and increase customer choice.

The NH CleanTech Council, a business group created by the NH Sustainable Energy Association to better advocate for NH’s clean energy and clean technology economy, recently released a report outlining the state of NH’s clean tech market, including analysis that shows this sector supports approximately 15,000 jobs in the Granite State. Learn more at nhcleantechouncil.org

The Granite State Hydropower Association is the state trade association for small hydroelectric power facilities. GSHA’s members produce millions of dollars in state tax revenues, maintain recreational facilities, are stewards of many NH rivers, provide funds for critical dam maintenance, and produce over 200,000 MWh of local, renewable electricity annually. Learn more at granitestatehydro.org