Rockingham Times

Clean Energy New Hampshire, an advocacy group, has issued legal action in the New Hampshire Superior Court against the Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) order cutting back energy-efficiency efforts in the state.

Bill Newell of energy efficiency company Newell & Crathern told New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) that while energy efficiency received widespread customer interest, the PUC order to reject an energy-efficient plan and cut funding will shrink energy-efficiency programs by more than half in the state. The Clean Energy petition asks a judge to put the PUC order on hold and return funding to 2020 levels, according to NHPR. 

“I moved to New Hampshire this summer and have gotten to know Sam (Evans-Brown) and the awesome, critical, essential work Clean Energy New Hampshire is doing. If you live here, or in New England, or just want to support clean energy progress in a key political state, please donate!” Jamie Henn, director of Fossil Free Media, tweeted Nov. 29. 

This plan for legal action comes alongside a process to challenge the order within the PUC through a motion for a rehearing, and any person directly impacted by the decisions is eligible to file a motion.

According to NHPR, these programs are often particularly important to low-income residents, and the order has halted work being done by organizations that provide weatherization to low-income clients. 

“These programs allow us to help people,” Jason Palmer of P&M Insulation told NHPR. “Sadly, there are  many more people that need our help. I’m hoping these programs can continue so we can continue helping people that desperately need it.” Palmer says his organization serves mostly low-income residents.