U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan and Mayor James Donchess recently spoke with a group of environmental professionals about the Inflation Reduction Act and the rise of clean energy. Courtesy photo/Office of U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan

NASHUA – U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan D-NH and Mayor James Donchess recently met with a group of environmental professionals to learn about the local benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed in August 2022.

“I worked with my colleagues to pass into law the Inflation Reduction Act in order to lower costs, combat climate change and reduce our reliance on Big Oil and energy sources from foreign countries and now this law is delivering for our state,” said Hassan during the Sept. 15 meeting. “It was great to hear from Mayor [James] Donchess and business and community leaders about ways that they’re lowering energy costs through federal investments and we will keep working together to ensure that New Hampshire families and businesses know about tax cuts and other incentives that they can utilize to get more clean energy.”

Hassan said she would occasionally hear about climate change when she was a state senator in the early-2000s — now, she hears about it all the time.

“One constituent had to replace her septic tank twice,” said Hassan. “We want to make clean energy affordable.”

Hassan also said she wants to get away from fossil fuels.

“The rising cost of gasoline is a huge concern,” she said.

Therefore, one of the objectives during the next decade will be to cut emissions by 40 percent.

“Concord and Nashua could really take the lead here,” said Hassan.

For the past several years, Nashua has been a proponent of clean energy and has helped lead the charge in pollution reduction.

The IRA offers generous tax incentives for clean energy investments and initiatives such as installing solar panels on city buildings.

“Thanks to these federal investments the city of Nashua will continue to be a leader in promoting clean energy that results in cost savings for our residents and businesses,” said Donchess. “I thank Senator Hassan and the entire New Hampshire delegation for fighting to support this historic legislation that is protecting our planet and boosting our economy.”

Should the city purchase a fleet of electric garbage trucks, Energy Manager Doria Brown said Nashua would be eligible for a $40,000 tax credit from the IRA.

She also said that since the Nashua Community Power Program was launched five months ago, the cost of electricity has decreased by 10 cents per kilowatt hour. The prior rate was 22 cents per kilowatt hour.

“Promoting clean energy and providing savings for our residents and businesses is always top of mind for our office,” she said. “The incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act now open up even more possibilities for the city’s clean energy plans. Nashua is well positioned for the transition to a clean energy future.”

The IRA will remain in effect through 2032 giving small businesses the chance to save money while helping in the effort to “transition to a clean economy.”

“We spend over $1 million a year on electricity,” said Eric Worthen, president of Worthen Industries. “Having this 10-year horizon makes a huge difference.”

Daniel Weeks, vice president of Business Development at ReVision Energy, said he expects there will be 20 million new jobs in renewable energy between now and 2050. One million of those jobs will be for electricians.

“We can’t hire fast enough, the demand is there,” he said. “The trades are a worthy path to a good life.”

Weeks said that until the IRA was passed, many projects were “dead in the water.”

“Projects that just weren’t happening have been brought back to life,” he said.

The group also toured Four Hills Landfill which converts methane gas into energy as the city is planning to launch a microgrid project that would provide municipal buildings with clean energy.

“Climate change is here. It’s impacting our health, communities and economy,” said Andrew Turner of EDF Action New Hampshire. “Thanks to the leadership of Senator Hassan, we have the tools to start tackling the crisis head on. Today’s event showcased how federal investments in climate and clean energy are helping New Hampshire. It’s investments like these that will ensure New Hampshire will be able reduce harmful climate pollution while transforming our economy to clean energy.”