NH Delegation Welcomes Over $3.5M for NH Clean Energy Programs Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
** Shaheen and Hassan were part of the bipartisan group of Senators to negotiate the bipartisan infrastructure law. Shaheen pushed the Department of Energy to expand & release funding for the State Energy Program**
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) today welcomed $3,581,770 heading to New Hampshire to expand clean energy programs. The announcement was made by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and will be delivered through the State Energy Program (SEP), with nearly ten times the amount of recent funding levels now available thanks to the bipartisan infrastructure law that Senators Shaheen and Hassan helped negotiate. This funding will help New Hampshire develop and implement clean energy projects that create jobs and economic growth while reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.
This announcement follows a letter Shaheen sent in December calling on the Department of Energy to quickly release funding to expand the State Energy Program.
“I’m thrilled to see the bipartisan infrastructure law deliver transformative funding to support clean energy projects across New Hampshire. This funding will create good-paying jobs, support local businesses and spur economic growth – all with an eye towards combating the climate crisis. From helping buildings become energy efficient to investing in solar energy and promoting clean energy infrastructure, this $3.5 million investment is critical to our clean energy future,” said Shaheen. “I helped lead negotiations around the bipartisan infrastructure law to deliver a once-in-a-generation investment in clean energy – I’m excited to see this funding making a real difference for communities across the state.”
“A clean energy economy is essential to helping lower costs and fight climate change, while also ensuring that we are not dependent on Big Oil or foreign countries,” said Senator Hassan. “This funding was made possible through the bipartisan infrastructure law, which I was proud to negotiate, and it is an exciting investment in New Hampshire’s economy and clean energy future. I’ll continue working on a bipartisan basis to expand clean energy in the Granite State, lower costs, and protect our environment.”
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver results for our communities – this federal funding to expand clean energy initiatives throughout the Granite State will create jobs and represents an important investment in our economy and efforts to combat climate change,” said Rep. Kuster, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Energy Subcommittee. “Creating a clean energy future is crucial to addressing the climate crisis, increasing our economic competitiveness, and bolstering our national security by reducing our reliance on foreign energy sources. I was proud to help pass the Inflation Reduction Act earlier this month, which includes historic provisions to address climate change, and I will continue working to support the clean energy economy of the future.”
“Investing in clean energy will spur economic growth, create job opportunities, and protect our environment and way of life here in New Hampshire,” said Rep. Pappas. “I fought to pass the bipartisan infrastructure law to fund smart investments like this that will improve our infrastructure while cutting energy costs for Granite State families. I’ll keep fighting to improve our sustainability, support our economy, and invest in our future.”
Read more about the Department of Energy’s investment to expand State Clean Energy Programs here.
As a lead negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure plan, Shaheen helped bolster funding for the State Energy Program. Senator Shaheen led a bipartisan letter to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm, urging DOE to prioritize the release of funds allocated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act for the State Energy Program and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). That law included a total of $3.5 billion for weatherization. Shaheen has long-championed the WAP program to lower energy costs for low-income families in New Hampshire, as well as the State Energy Program, which assists states with the development of energy efficiency renewable projects. In the bipartisan infrastructure bill that was signed into law last year, Shaheen successfully included key provisions of her energy efficiency bill – the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC) – with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). She also included the Smart Manufacturing Leadership Act, the Promoting American Energy Jobs Act and the Heat Efficiency through Applied Technology (HEAT) Act. A targeted version of the ESIC legislation was signed into law by President Obama in 2015, and a number of provisions relating to energy efficiency in schools, industry and the federal government were signed into law as part of the Energy Act of 2020.
Senator Hassan has worked to lower energy costs by investing in clean energy in the bipartisan infrastructure law and the recently-passed Inflation Reduction Act. Senator Hassan was one of the negotiators for the bipartisan infrastructure law, supports domestic battery energy storage development and deployment, technology needed to increase the use of renewable energy sources and eliminate reliability gaps throughout the day. These provisions build on Senator Hassan’s bipartisan Battery Storage Innovation Act – which was signed into law as part of the December government funding package. The Inflation Reduction Act provides a tax cut to help families lower their energy bills by making energy-efficient home upgrades such as updating an HVAC system or even windows or doors. This provision is based on the tax cut in Senators Hassan and Collins’ previously introduced bipartisan bill, the Home Energy Savings Act.
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