“I commend the Town of Portsmouth for its commitment to supporting cost-saving, creative, renewable energy solutions,” Portsmouth Governer Carcieri said. “I encourage all our cities and towns to follow Portsmouth’s lead and embrace renewable energy programs.”
The $3 million project was approved by town voters in 2007 and is expected to produce enough energy to supply over 60 percent of the town’s electrical needs (schools, fire and police stations, street lights, etc.) Under the state’s new community net metering law, the power company will credit the town to offset some of the town’s electric bills.
In addition, the town will sell the energy’s environmental attributes (in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates) to the green power provider, People’s Power & Light, for use in their product New England GreenStart.
These revenues are expected to more that cover the annual cost of operation and debt service and return over $100,000 net positive revenue to the town the first year in operation.
