NH Rural Renewables

11/06/2024

After a 6-year run, Lakes Region Community College has ended its NH Rural Renewables technical assistance program. It has been an honor to work with NH's rural small businesses and farmers over the years. The good news is that Clean Energy NH is continuing in the same vein with small business technical assistance: https://www.cleanenergynh.org/small-business-technical-assistance

And USDA Rural Development is continuing its 50% REAP grants for solar and energy efficiency. Thanks! -Andy Duncan, LRCC Energy

The USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides grants for small businesses and agricultural producers to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy technology. REAP grants cover up to 50% of eligible project costs. Eligible technologies include solar, wind, geothermal, wood heat or....

04/05/2023

Great example of a small commercial wood heat system in Concord, NH. Talk to NHRR about your rural NH small business for a no-cost wood heat, solar or energy efficiency technical assistance.

Modern wood heat is not just for home heating — it’s also ultra-reliable for commercial and educational installations. Switching to modern wood heat embodies New Hampshire Audubon’s commitment to caring for the climate and sustaining forest management that supports habitat diversity. 🌳 🐦

04/01/2023

On Friday, March 31, USDA Rural Development launched expanded grant opportunities with its Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): https://www.rd.usda.gov/rural-energy-america-program-reap #
Details include:
-Up to 50% REAP grants for solar and energy efficiency (25% for wood)
-Quarterly REAP grant application windows for 6 quarters, ending 6/30/23 through 9/30/24
-Infusion of over $1 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act for REAP grants over these 6 quarters
-Up to 15 bonus points for projects located in distressed or disadvantaged census tracts, which in NH includes these rural areas: Claremont/Charlestown, Berlin, Concord SE, Wi******er, and Colebrook/Stratford.
-Set-aside funding for "underutilized technologies," and REAP grants under $20,000.

Slightly ironic for those finishing their 40% grant REAP grant proposals by the 3/31 deadline, but very exciting for most farms and rural small businesses! In New Hampshire, Lakes Region Community College's NH Rural Renewables provides no-cost, vendor-neutral sustainable energy technical assistance to rural small businesses, including help with REAP grant applications. Visit the NHRR web page to get started: https://www.lrcc.edu/programs/nh-rural-renewables/

NH Rural Renewables provides no-cost energy efficiency technical assistance for rural small businesses in New Hampshire.

03/10/2023

USDA REAP grants are now up to 40% of clean energy project cost! The "Rural Energy for America Program" is for agricultural producers and rural small businesses, with a March 31 application deadline, plus an Oct. 31 round for smaller projects. Some REAP grant tips:
-In NH, "rural" includes Portsmouth, Concord, Peterborough and areas north.
-Focus on retrofit clean energy projects with specific implementation plans, compelling financials, and at least one year of existing energy use data.
-While solar PV is the most popular REAP grant, there are lots of opportunities for energy efficiency and modern wood heat grants.
-Allow at least two weeks for the required SAM(dot)gov registration process.
-Go after other incentives such as the 30% solar tax credit, NHSaves EE incentives, or NH's 40% wood pellet boiler rebate.

For NH-based no-cost, vendor-neutral technical assistance, contact the experts at Lakes Region Community College's NH Rural Renewables program.

NH Rural Renewables provides no-cost energy efficiency technical assistance for rural small businesses in New Hampshire.

02/07/2023

Kudos to NH Bulletin’s Amanda Gokee for a great article on NH wood heat. Entitled “With energy prices soaring, some see wood heat as a chance to ‘buy local’” the article is part of NH Bulletin’s excellent Energy and Environment reporting. https://newhampshirebulletin.com/category/energy-environment/
If your rural NH small business is curious about wood heat, contact NH Rural Renewables for no-cost, vendor-neutral technical assistance.

Achieving the aggressive offshore wind power goals of the federal government and individual states will require billions of dollars in spending on transmission infrastructure, “unprecedented” cooperation between grid operators and federal and state agencies, and would be aided by major buildout ...

12/08/2022

The 2023 Commercial Renewable Energy Installer Directories are now available! These are comprehensive listings of commercial solar and wood energy installers in New Hampshire. Each directory includes contact information, as well as additional information about types of services offered and regions served. Find a Wood or Solar vendor near you and start $aving oh your energy costs.
https://www.lrcc.edu/programs-training/nh-rural-renewables/

NH Rural Renewables provides no-cost energy efficiency technical assistance for rural small businesses in New Hampshire.

11/15/2022

Our Wood Heat For Your Business webinar is tomorrow at 9AM.
Click this link to attend! - https://lnkd.in/eb-mnhxx

Sign-up for NH Rural Renewables webinar- WOOD HEAT FOR YOUR BUSINESS: A TIMELY AND SMART CHOICE on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 9:00 - 10:30 am. Find out about low cost wood fuels, options for efficient commercial wood heating, and incentives.

11/09/2022

NH Rural Renewables is presenting a Zoom webinar- WOOD HEAT FOR YOUR BUSINESS: A TIMELY AND SMART CHOICE on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 9:00 - 10:30 am. Sign-up link: https://app.getresponse.com/click.html?x=a62b&lc=SHSCQ3&mc=Jb&s=E&u=Svbi1&z=EEsGJvV&

11/03/2022

Sign up for the small business wood heat webinar on Feb. 24, 2021 by NH Rural Renewables and USDA Rural Development.

10/20/2022

WEBINAR - WOOD HEAT FOR YOUR BUSINESS: A TIMELY AND SMART CHOICE
NH Rural Renewables is presenting a LIVE Zoom webinar on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 9:00 - 10:30 am. Find out from the experts about low cost wood fuels, options for efficient commercial wood heating, and the incentives available to reduce wood heat costs even further. Sign-up Today! - https://ruralrenewableslrcc-d99b5.gr8.com/

10/04/2022

REAP THE BENEFITS of a grant from USDA Rural Development's "Rural Energy for America Program."

The fall round of REAP grant applications are due Oct. 31, 2022. New Hampshire's rural small businesses and farms- go to the:
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/rural-energy-america-program-renewable-energy-systems-energy-efficiency-improvement-guaranteed-loans/nh
web site for application materials. NH Rural Renewables staff can help with expert, no-cost technical assistance for your REAP grant and clean energy project. https://www.lrcc.edu/programs-training/nh-rural-renewables/

03/09/2021

Got T-RECs? If your business is using heating oil or propane, it’s using fuels older than the dinosaurs. Consider switching to modern wood heat! Not only does your business benefit from a less expensive, local and renewable fuel, it can also sell “thermal renewable energy certificates.” Every 3.4 million BTUs of wood-generated thermal energy delivered to your building is worth about $20 in NH T-RECs. A 1 MMBTU wood pellet or chip boiler heating your business will generate about $1200/year in net T-REC revenue. NH Rural Renewables wood heat expert Charlie Niebling can provide your NH small business with no-cost, vendor-neutral technical assistance on how to get off the dinosaur train.
https://www.lrcc.edu/programs-training/workforce-trainings-a-z/nh-rural-renewables/nhrr-wood/