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Council backs S.B. 538 to extend municipal net‑metering eligibility and will send letter of support
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Summary
A volunteer energy advocate urged Merrimack to sign a letter supporting Senate Bill 538, which would allow municipal group net‑metering projects to receive 20 years of eligibility from their start date rather than a fixed 2040 cutoff; the council approved the letter and asked staff to draft and circulate it before the House committee hearing.
Marybeth, a volunteer with the New Hampshire Network for Energy, Environment and Climate, asked the Merrimack Town Council on March 26 to sign a letter supporting S.B. 538, which would change net‑metering eligibility for municipal group solar projects so each project receives 20 years of eligibility from its in-service date instead of an across-the-board cutoff date of 2040.
Marybeth explained the change would make municipal solar projects financially feasible by aligning net‑metering credit terms with project financing windows; she said the bill had passed the Senate and was scheduled for a House committee hearing on April 6. She noted municipalities that use group net‑metering share credits among municipal meters (for example, an array at a transfer station credited to a library or fire station).
Councilors asked about opposition arguments, infrastructure constraints (three‑phase power to make landfill arrays feasible), and grant and ROI considerations. Paul (town staff) said the town has identified possible solar sites (highway garage and wastewater treatment plant), but that infrastructure and federal/state payback limits lengthen the return on investment. Councilors also discussed whether to use the circulated template letter or a town‑specific letter.
Councilor Nancy Murphy moved that the town council sign a letter in support of S.B. 538 on behalf of Merrimack and have the town manager handle distribution; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously, 7–0–0. Staff said they would draft a concise, town‑specific letter, circulate it to councilors for review and try to get signatures and delivery in advance of the committee hearing on April 6.
The council’s action expresses municipal support; it does not change the legislation’s text but aims to inform legislators of local interest.
