‘Button Up New Hampshire’ Energy Savings Workshops Announced by NHEC | Aug 28, 2017 | UncategorizedButton Up New Hampshire, the popular home energy savings workshop series, is returning to a community near you. These free workshops will take place throughout NH starting in September. The workshops are being sponsored by NHSaves and coordinated by the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI). NHSaves is a collaboration of New Hampshire’s electric and natural gas utilities, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, NH Electric Cooperative and Unitil, working with the NH Public Utilities Commission and other interested parties to provide NH customers with information, incentives, and support designed to save energy, reduce costs, and protect our environment statewide. The NHSaves Button Up Workshop is a 1.5 hour presentation about how to improve the energy efficiency of your home. It covers basic building science principles as well as examples of whole house weatherization measures that will button up your home for the heating and cooling seasons. It also covers details about the energy efficiency programs offered by NH utilities to provide energy audits and weatherization, rebates on electric and gas appliances as well as new construction. NH residents wishing to use energy more efficiently, conserve energy and save money on their heating and cooling bills, will find the information very useful. The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative of Plymouth, NH is working with local groups statewide to organize the workshops for the public on behalf of New Hampshire’s utilities. Each workshop is sponsored by the utilities through NHSaves and hosted by a local partner. The utilities are offering a free LED light bulb to the first 10 households who attend each workshop. Each workshop is presented by a knowledgeable BPI Certified Building Analyst and a utility representative will also be available to answer further questions about their programs. The workshop series will kick off with a workshop in Gilford, NH on Thursday, September 7th at 6:00pm. The workshop is being organized by the Gilford Public Library located on 31 Potter Hill Road in Gilford. All are welcome to attend. The workshop organizers still have open slots on their schedule for additional local partners who are interested in hosting a NHSaves Button Up Workshop for their community. If your town committee, business or local organization would like to host a free workshop, please contact Robbin Adams, Button Up Coordinator, at the e-mail address below. For more information visit NHSaves.com/events or e-mail or call the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative at 603-536-5030 or robbin@plymouthenergy.org
Colebrook’s “Green Grocer” Installs State’s Northernmost EV Charging Stations by NHEC | Jul 24, 2017 | UncategorizedCOLEBROOK, NH – A large swath of New Hampshire’s North Country just became more accessible for drivers of Electric Vehicles (EV) with the opening this month of two new EV chargers at LaPerle’s IGA in Colebrook. The chargers are the northernmost, publicly-available recharging point in the state and fill a critical gap in the EV charging infrastructure between the White Mountains and southern Quebec. For Guy LaPerle, owner of LaPerle’s IGA, the chargers are just the latest in a long list of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects he’s undertaken at the supermarket. With guidance and incentives from New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), LaPerle has installed a 35 kilowatt (kW) solar electric array and installed LED lighting that is saving the business over $1,000 per month in electric costs. LaPerle was among the first to take advantage of a new NHEC program that offers incentives of 50% of the installed cost up to $5,000 to commercial and municipal members who install EV chargers. LaPerle said he will not charge users for electricity consumed at the charging stations but will install a donation box, the proceeds of which will be given to North Country charities. “We’re always looking to use renewable energy and make energy efficient choices as a way to use less fossil fuel, protect the environment and preserve our great nation,” said LaPerle. Installed in the market parking lot, the Level 2 chargers supply 240 volts, similar to what an electric dryer or oven uses. Power goes through the EV charger and a cord that improves safety by waiting to send power to the plug until it’s plugged into an EV. Level 2 chargers allow for a wide range of charging speeds, all the way up to 19.2 kilowatts (kW), or about 70 miles of range per hour of charging. The number of EV chargers installed in southern and central parts of the state is growing quickly, according to PlugShare.com, a website that maps the state’s charging locations. But publicly available Level 2 chargers are few and far between in the North Country, especially ones that remain open year-round. The installation of LaPerle’s chargers will go a long way towards relieving the “range anxiety” of EV drivers who would otherwise avoid the North Country for fear of being stranded without a place to recharge. Recent advances in battery storage technology have significantly increased the range of most new EVs as well. The new Chevrolet Bolt, for instance, will go an average of 238 miles on a single charge. To encourage more widespread adoption of EV use, NHEC offers incentives up to $1,000 to residential members who purchase an EV in 2017, and up to $2,500 per charger to commercial members who install up to two Level 2 EV chargers. Pre-approval for incentives is required prior to installing the charging station. To learn more, please visit the program page, or call an EV specialist at 1-800-698-2007.
Congratulations to 2017 NHEC Foundation Scholars! by NHEC | Jul 24, 2017 | UncategorizedSeven members of New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) were named recipients of the 2017 NHEC Foundation Scholarships. Nearly 100 candidates applied for the $1,500 scholarships, which are available to high school seniors, students returning to college, and non-traditional students enrolled in an accredited, undergraduate educational or training institution. One scholarship is reserved for a student entering a vocational or technical institution. All applicants are either Co-op members, or legal dependents of a Co-op member. The scholarships were awarded based on work experience, activities and leadership contributions, community service, educational/career objectives and overall scholastic achievement. The following individuals were awarded a $1,500 NHEC Foundation Scholarship: Christin Badylak-Reals of Plymouth will be continuing her education at the University of New Hampshire where she studies Mechanical Engineering. Eric DuBois of Moultonborough is in his second year at Brown University where he is studying Biomedical Engineering. Emma Hardie of Alton will be attending New Hampshire Technical Institute where she will earn her degree in Dental Hygiene. Meghan Hurley of Moultonborough is in her second year at Colby College where she is studying Environmental Policy. Dylan McLaughlin of Moultonborough will be attending the University of New Hampshire where he will study Mechanical Engineering. Charlotte Pitts of North Woodstock is studying Art History and Archaeology at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Caitlin Royer of Fremont will enter her third year at Great Bay Community College where she continues her studies in Veterinary Technology.
Wilmot Member Named Winner of 2017 Kathy Anderson Scholarship by NHEC | Jun 27, 2017 | Uncategorized PLYMOUTH, NH – Kimberlee Esposito of Wilmot, NH was selected as the 2017 recipient of the 7th annual Kathy Anderson Scholarship. Esposito, a New Hampshire Electric Co-op (NHEC) member, and mother of a young daughter, will receive $2,500 to help continue her studies at Southern New Hampshire University, where she is pursuing an associate degree in General Studies/Business Management. She plans to go on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Named for the late Kathy Anderson, wife of retired New Hampshire Electric Co-op President/CEO Fred Anderson, the scholarship was created to help a deserving New Hampshire woman who is seeking to better her life through education. “Kimberlee is a very grateful and motivated woman with a strong passion for her daughter and her continuing education. This was very clear upon meeting her in person,” said Fred Anderson. The Kathy Anderson scholarship was established in 2011 and awards one $2,500 scholarship annually to a non-traditional female learner over the age of 25 who is a US citizen, resident of NH and is a member of NHEC. Click here for more information about the Kathy Anderson Scholarship. The Kathy Anderson Scholarship is funded by individual contributions made in Kathy’s name to the NHEC Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 charitable fund that has contributed over $3 million to charitable organizations within NHEC service territory since 2006.
Newcomer Joins Two Incumbents on NHEC Board by NHEC | Jun 16, 2017 | Uncategorized2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION RESULTS A new member has joined the NHEC Board of Directors after being elected to a three-year term. Leo Dwyer of Sandwich, NH was elected by the members during the 2017 Board election. Dwyer, whose background includes developing large scale thermal energy plants, said he wants to lessen the impact of system charges imposed on NHEC by ISO-New England, the regional grid administrator, by working more closely with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In addition, two incumbent members were re-elected to the Board of Directors – Joan Aubrey of Jackson and Harry Viens of Center Harbor. 2017 Election Results Total Ballots Counted: 6,806 *Joan Aubrey (Jackson) 4,957 *Leo Dwyer (Sandwich)) 4,049 *Harry Viens (Center Harbor) 3,932 Bruce Wiggett (Plymouth) 3,691 Brian Smoker (Rumney) 2,236 *Elected to three-year term
NHEC Breaks Ground on State’s Largest Solar Array by NHEC | Jun 2, 2017 | UncategorizedMOULTONBOROUGH, NH – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) has begun construction of what will be the largest solar electric array in the state, a two megawatt (MW) system that will provide its members a clean source of electricity located on NHEC’s own distribution system. The ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system, comprised of approximately 8,000 panels, will take shape over the next several months on land owned by NHEC adjacent to its substation on Moultonborough Neck Road in Moultonborough. It is expected to be online by the end of 2017 and producing approximately 3.5 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year for the next 25 years or more, enough power for approximately 600 homes. The Moultonborough solar array will displace electricity NHEC would otherwise have to purchase and pay to have imported from outside its system, and will generate Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) that NHEC can either use to meet its requirements under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard or can sell to other electricity providers. Costs for wholesale generating capacity and transmission, which have risen dramatically in recent years, have been of considerable concern to NHEC and its members. At current costs, the Moultonborough project’s output is expected to save NHEC more than $280,000 per year in costs it would otherwise incur for purchase and delivery of the same products at wholesale from sources outside its system. After factoring in the cost of construction and the expected savings, the power from the project is expected to immediately have a net cost on par with conventionally produced power imported by NHEC from the regional market. NHEC President and CEO Steve Camerino noted, “Although it will cover a small portion of our members’ total electricity needs, one of the biggest benefits of this project is the price stability it offers. Wholesale power prices can vary widely, but this project will provide NHEC’s members a reliable source of renewable energy at a fixed cost for at least the next 25 years. The Moultonborough solar project will allow NHEC to build on its experience operating two smaller solar PV systems that currently power our district offices in Raymond and Sunapee by exploring how a larger system will work in conjunction with our facilities and whether such installations elsewhere on our system might make sense.” The project will also support NHEC’s efforts to explore new initiatives that can benefit members, including utility-scale power storage that can help further reduce the financial impact of periods of peak demand when power prices spike. The total cost of the Moultonborough solar array is approximately $5 million, which is being financed by low interest New Clean Energy Renewable Bonds (NCREBs) made available by the U.S. Treasury Department for public sector renewable energy projects. NHEC has engaged Ameresco, Inc. of Framingham, MA to build the 2 MW array. Site work on the 65 acre-parcel off Moultonborough Neck Road is being performed by Jeremy Hiltz Excavating, Inc. of Ashland, NH. Engineering services are being provided by McCourt Engineering of Henniker, NH. NHEC is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving 84,000 homes and businesses in 115 New Hampshire communities.