A new state-wide poll found that 4 out of 5 New Hampshire voters favor solar as an energy source and a clear majority support New Hampshire’s net metering law that allows solar customers to get credit for the extra energy their solar panels produce. The support spans political party lines.
Solar net metering is a cornerstone solar policy that exists across the U.S. and it is creating jobs in New Hampshire, as well as allowing consumers of all incomes to install solar on their rooftops. New Hampshire has an arbitrary cap on net metering, which places a cap on in-state solar growth. The poll indicates that nearly 70% of those surveyed strongly support New Hampshire’s net metering law. More than three times as many voters support this practice than oppose it. What’s more, the support for net metering is consistent across political parties. Two thirds of both Republican and Democratic respondents support the net metering law and three quarters of Independents support it.
“New Hampshire voters – including solar workers, consumers, schools and businesses – are urging policy makers to lift the cap and keep net metering in place this legislative session,” said TASC spokesperson Evan Dube. “The future of the state’s solar industry hinges on preserving net metering.”In addition, while New Hampshire voters are well known for their support of limited government, a surprising majority supports legislative intervention with the Public Utilities Commission to continue the state’s solar net metering program. In fact, poll results show that Politicians who want to cap solar metering may find themselves out of a job at the next election. Only 14% of polled voters are more likely to vote for such a legislator, while more than three times as many voters would be less likely to vote for the legislator.
Finally, although New Hampshire has traditionally one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, voters are enthusiastic about the prospect of new clean-energy jobs created by the growing solar industry in the state. The industry has already created hundreds of solar jobs across the state because fundamental policies like net metering.For a summary memo of poll results click here. The poll of 1,150 likely New Hampshire voters was conducted by phone on December 16-17, 2015. New Hampshire-based research firm Stark Research Analytics conducted the poll, and it was commissioned by The Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC).
