Solar Energy on the Rise in NH

With increasing environmental awareness and escalating energy costs, New Hampshire is starting to turn towards the sun. Solar energy has been an available technology for decades but high upfront costs, moderate energy output, and cheap traditional sources of energy kept many away. Environmental awareness was not as prevalent a topic of conversation and a social stigma was attached to people who chose alternative energy sources such as solar.

Times have changed here in New Hampshire. Firstly, production techniques and product development have increased the reliability and energy output of solar panels while at the same time driving down costs. Secondly, traditional energy from the power plant is becoming more and more costly to homeowners. Rising energy costs have been a problem not just for New Hampshire but for the entire nation. Thirdly, people are wanting to do something for the environment.

For Malik Haig, owner of Sustain Ability in Laconia, NH the reason he sees most people show up to his store to inquire about solar energy is because of rising energy costs. “I have a lot of people coming to me saying that their utility and furnace bills were $3,000 for the winter and that they just can’t take it anymore,” Haig said. For him, most of the people showing up to inquire about solar are actually interested in using solar energy to heat their water, not for electrical production.

Haig opened up his store at the beginning of 2008 after moving to the state and feels that there is a lot of potential in NH for people to start turning towards solar. Interest has been high from everything he’s seen so far. “There have been lots of people who have been interested, have known about the technology for years, but when they come in and actually look and touch the panels, they really see how it is possible,” he said.

Further down the state, the citizens of Seabrook are looking at adding solar panels to the town’s new water-treatment plant. A vote in March saw the town approve $12 million for the project. While the upfront cost is intimidating, for those who look down the road, it makes sense. Solar energy does pay for itself in terms of savings but it can also sell energy back onto the grid if it has an excess amount.

Take for instance the town of Epping that just added six solar panels for electric power. It will take about fifteen years to pay off the upfront cost but “then it’s all a net positive cash flow,” said Epping Town Planner Clay Mitchell. Within another 15 years, the town should earn $10,000 in profit.

Jack Leary, the vice president and chief financial officer for KW Management in Nashua said that, “interest in the last 2 years has gone up exponentially.” His company works in commercial, industrial, and residential environments installing solar panels. To him, the rising interest here in NH for solar panels is due to rising energy costs. The global warming discussion has certainly contributed, he notes.

For Leary, potential customers are interested in both solar thermal and solar electrical systems. With payback times of about three to seven years for thermal systems and around fifteen for electrical systems, payback times are falling. The durability and area reduction of solar panels have also been enticing potential customers more and more, he said. By using solar systems, not only can you hedge against future energy cost volatility but “you’re investing in your future.”