Coastal communities compete to support the cleanest energy

Starting today, Seacoast communities will compete to see which city or town can encourage the most residents to support clean energy on their electric bills.

Dover, Durham, Newmarket, Portsmouth and Exeter are challenging households enrolled in local community energy programs to opt for slightly higher electricity rates that represent larger shares of renewable energy. The contest runs through the end of January 2025, when utilities across the state will again change their rates on a two-year cycle.

All the communities participating in the challenge are part of the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire, which includes about three dozen municipalities with active programs. About 94% of the coalition’s customers are on a “base” rate, which is 24.3% renewable energy, a number required by the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard.

But the coalition also offers rates that reflect higher shares of renewable energy: 33%, 50% and 100%. Although the electrons that power the home come from the same flow on the grid, the coalition uses the rate premiums to buy Renewable Energy Certificates, or “RECS.”

The organization says this practice increases demand for RECS, which in turn encourages greater investment in renewable energy projects.

Three communities – Hanover, Peterborough and Plainfield – use the 33% option as their default power option and the vast majority of their residents use it, while some choose other options.

“Nobody really thinks about where they’re getting their energy from. It’s just the utility, and you pay the bill,” said Lisa Sweet, vice president of the Community Power Coalition. “I think the challenge is just educating people about where their energy comes from and where it can come from.”

The coalition’s rates for the up to 50% renewable energy option are lower than Unitil, Liberty and Eversource’s rates through January 2025. Its rate for 100% renewable energy is about one and a half cents higher than Unitil and Eversource’s rates and one cent higher than Liberty’s rates.

For Joe Lamattina, a member of Newmarket City Council, community electricity rate options are a way to achieve the city’s goals.

“We’re trying to move away from fossil fuels and reduce our carbon footprint,” he said. “Newmarket has a lot of flats, apartments and houses that aren’t suitable for solar panels. And this is a way for the community to move to cleaner energy, reduce our carbon footprint and still save money.”