The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission recently awarded $1.025 million to fund four renewable energy projects in New Hampshire. Funded by the State’s Renewable Energy Fund, the grants help pay for a range of renewable energy installations which will contribute to reducing New Hampshire’s dependence on fossil fuels and to achieving the state’s renewable energy goals. The grant funds will be leveraged with an additional $1.9 million in project funds invested by the grantees.
The Commission issued its annual request for proposals in September 2015, receiving eight applications with grant requests totaling more than $3 million. Proposals were evaluated by a selection committee made up of representatives from the Commission staff, the Department of Environmental Services, and the Office of Energy and Planning. All proposals were scored, and recommandations for awards were provided to the commissioners for review and approval. The four grant agreements were approved by Governor Hassan and the Executive Council on April 20, 2016.
“This year’s request for proposals gave special emphasis to projects that employ technologies not eligible for rebates and that increase the supply of thermal Renewable Energy Certificates, (RECs), to help reduce the need for Class I Thermal alternative compliance payments into the renewable energy fund,” stated Karen Cramton the Director of the PUC’s Sustainable Energy Division. “We are excited to work with this year’s grant recipients on their innovative renewable energy projects.”
Grants were awarded to:
Pemi-Baker Cooperative School District – $325,000: The school district will install a dry wood chip-fired biomass boiler at the Plymouth Regional High School. An energy efficiency performance contractor will purchase and install the boiler through an energy performance contract and will also implement a range of energy efficiency measures through this cost neutral loan. The project is expected to displace 60,000 gallons of heating oil per year, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 552 tons per year, and generate 1,909 Thermal Renewable Energy Certificates per year. Total project cost is $1.1 million.
Ever Better Hydro, LLC – $200,000: The Company will recover, reactivate, and operate the 415kW hydroelectric generating station located in Pittsfield, NH. The estimated 1.4 million kWh of electricity generation per year will provide Ever Better Eating (Rustic Crust) with approximately two-thirds of their total annual electric load across two locations in Pittsfield while avoiding 511 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The facility is expected to create 1,400 Renewable Energy Credits annually. Total project cost is $600,000.
University of New Hampshire – $200,000: The University will install and operate a 200kW steam turbine generation unit in Rudman Hall. The steam is generated at the University’s combined heat and power plant which burns landfill gas – a renewable energy source. The estimated 600,000kWh of electricity generation per year from waste steam will avoid 219 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The facility is expected to create 402 Renewable Energy Credits annually. Total project cost is $600,000.
Froling Energy, LLC – $300,000: The Company will install a dry wood chip-fired biomass boiler and a continuous feed wood chip drying facility for increasing production of Precision Dry Wood Chips (PDCs) at its site in Peterborough, NH. The project is expected to displace 93,000 gallons of fuel oil per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 888 tons per year and generate 3, 186 Thermal Renewable Energy Credits per year. Total project cost is $627,000.
”These grants benefit New Hampshire by providing funding to projects that will increase the use of clean, indigenous, renewable resources, reduce reliance on imported fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” notes Cramton. “The projects will also stimulate the economy by investing dollars locally and creating jobs.”
Contact: Amanda Noonan, Director of Consumer Services and External Affairs Public Utilities Commission. (603) 271-2431.
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