|
As 2025 ends, let’s recap major forces affecting the energy transition, a focus of Third Act’s work since its founding. Rapid-fire White House actions created policy reversals in favor of fossil fuel business interests and new obstacles to deploying solar and wind. But even if the national regime pretends otherwise, economics is not on the side of fossil fuels. 2025 brought overdue closure of the coal-burning Merrimack Station. October’s backlog for connection to the New England grid is 99% renewables: battery, wind, and solar! At SunDay in Concord we heard from developers of two large solar arrays, one underway in Warner (4.99 MW) and a huge 20 MW project pending in Farmington. At the household level, abrupt expiration of tax credits for home electrification and solar at year’s end increases solar net cost; but, rising electricity rates and decreasing panel costs are forces tending to reduce home solar’s payback period. Costs can also be shaved by addressing unnecessary delays in the permitting process, the motive for Third Act’s “Simplify Solar,” one of three major organizational goals for 2026. This initiative applies in our communities where we all have agency, and no experience is needed! Most of what one really needs to know is laid out in a comprehensive Third Act: Simplify Solar Campaign Toolkit 10-16-25. This is our chance to help advance the energy transition, working from your home and in community. Two surviving programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act are scheduled to finally launch in 2026:
More on these later. |
|
Help Bill Coder out on the Simpify Solar campaign! He would like to hear from everyone ready to join a team effort with additional resources particular to NH. Email him at newhampshire@thirdact.org |