The costs of running a community can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, more communities in N.H. are taking after the town of Cornish’s possible adaptation of community power in order to reduce these energy-related costs.
Community power works to increase renewable energy options for the residents of the communities it is implemented in. The program is meant to be instilled at a town level by the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH), with hearings being held on November 14 and December 3 to determine whether this program should continue to spread its outreach, according to a Valley News article.
The article’s author Clare Shanahan quoted Cornish Energy Committee Chair Joanna Sharf, writing, “This community power, especially if we decide to partner with (the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire), could offer the town a lot of options energy-wise that we would (otherwise) not be able to take advantage of.”
Not only do these budding community power plans provide more options for energy to N.H. residents, they also help to stabilize the rate of electricity and create a growing network of people committed to collaboration on future energy-related projects. So far a total of 62 municipalities and four counties have joined CPCNH outside of Cornish, including Lebanon, Enfield, Hanover and Plainfield. Just among these few counties, reported rates of lower electric bills have already been received from the converted communities.
“For example, between its launch in April 2023 and Aug. 31, 2024, Lebanon Community Power in partnership with CPCNH saved customers an average of $1,658 compared to the utility’s default residential rates,” wrote Shanahan.
Lowering costs of energy while also remaining devoted to renewable sources and community building should be seen as a win for each and every town community power has been implemented in. Even with the option to remain outside of this automatic program once instilled, less than “2% of enrolled customers have opted out since the April 2023 launch,” added Shanahan. This only emphasizes the program’s strength and popularity among the people who utilize it. While community power has been growing slowly and steadily, its success in its instilled communities beams bright.
While the statistics look good so far, community power does have its own speed bumps when it comes to instilling cheaper, renewable energy into the homes of residents. According to Valley News, “CPCNH’s Herndon acknowledged that there is sometimes confusion about the role of the utility and the town when it comes to community power. Another issue is that because of how electricity is regulated, customers with solar panels cannot opt in to community power, Herndon added.”
However, Herndon made note of the fact that the solar issue is currently in the works, requiring changes in utility and regulation that may take time to sort out, but a probable solution is being worked on nonetheless.
Now it is up to the people of N.H. and the delegation of state representatives to decide whether or not CPCNH is something they want to see continue its growth within their state. To those currently without solar panels and those who worry about the rising costs of utilities and electricity, the hopeful addition of community power into more N.H. counties will be a dream come true.
Kara Montagano can be contacted at
Kara.Montagano@keene.edu
