New CPCNH Group Net Metering Project Will Expand Renewable Access
- Nick Gosling
- Apr 9
- 3 min read
A former gravel pit just off of Interstate 89 in Warner, New Hampshire, is set to become a source of clean energy for communities across the state. Poverty Plains Solar, a ~5-megawatt (MW) solar project developed and owned by Encore Renewable Energy (based in Burlington, Vermont), is moving forward with support from the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH).
This project will occupy more than 20 acres of previously disturbed land and will generate more than 8.5 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity in its first year—equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of roughly one-thousand typical New Hampshire homes.
“Projects like this show how we can repurpose land that has already been degraded and turn it into something that benefits communities for years to come,” said Mark Bolinger, CPCNH’s director of projects and programs. “We’re excited to help bring more affordable, locally generated renewable energy to New Hampshire.”
How the Poverty Plains Solar Project Works
Once operational in mid 2026, Poverty Plains will supply CPCNH with renewable energy certificates (RECs) and municipalities, schools, and other public entities with significant electricity bill savings through New Hampshire’s “group net metering” program.
Group net metering is New Hampshire’s version of “community solar.” Under this state-run program, a “host” develops a community-scale solar project and shares its energy output with “group members” (i.e., subscribers). The project earns net metering credits for all the electricity it generates, and the host typically offers subscribers a portion of these credits as an incentive to join. In this way, subscribers benefit from lower electricity costs with no upfront investment.
“One of the most exciting aspects of this project is that it provides a direct financial benefit to New Hampshire communities,” Bolinger said. “Participants will see real savings on their energy bills while supporting clean energy development.”
Who Can Subscribe?
Eligibility to subscribe to group net metering projects depends on both the size and location of the project. Projects of 1 MW or less are open to all types of electricity customers, including residential, commercial, and municipal accounts. Projects between 1 and 5 MW (like Poverty Plains Solar) are open only to governmental entities such as municipalities, public schools, counties, and wastewater treatment plants.
Subscribers must also be located within the same utility service territory as the project—i.e., Eversource in the case of Poverty Plains Solar. That said, subscribers need not receive their electricity supply from that same utility (e.g., Eversource). Rather, they can participate in group net metering while being served by a community power aggregation (CPA) or a competitive energy supplier.
What Does It Cost to Subscribe? What Will I Get in Return?
There is no cost to subscribe. Once Poverty Plains is operational, subscribers will earn 12.5% of the applicable net metering credit over time. The exact cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) number will vary based on Eversource’s default supply rate, which is updated every six months (and to which Eversource’s net metering credit is pegged). For example, if Poverty Plains Solar were operational between February and July 2025, subscribers would earn 1.12 cents/kWh subscribed over this period, based on Eversource’s 8.929 cents/kWh default supply rate.
Why This Matters
Large-scale solar projects like Poverty Plains are rare in New Hampshire, but can help the Granite State’s towns and schools lower energy costs while increasing access to renewable power.
By subscribing, participants will:
Support clean energy without having to build their own solar installation.
Receive financial savings with no out-of-pocket costs.
Help strengthen local energy independence by keeping power generation in-state.
“This pioneering project will bring reliable, affordable energy to our good neighbors in New Hampshire,” said Jesse Stowell, Chief Commercial Officer at Encore Renewable Energy. “We value our partnership with CPCNH and appreciate the innovative way in which CPCNH has structured this arrangement to ensure it works well for all parties.”
How to Get Involved
CPCNH is currently accepting expressions of interest from potential subscribers. Qualifying governmental accounts in Eversource service territory can learn more about the program and the sign-up process by visiting CPCNH’s website or by contacting Mark Bolinger at mark.bolinger@communitypowernh.gov.