WASHINGTON — The Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) stands behind New Hampshire’s newly approved law, S.B. 213, which adds thermal renewable energy sources to compliance measures that electric utilities can deploy to meet the requirements of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS).
Signed into law at the end of June, New Hampshire’s new legislation allows renewable thermal energy — such as that offered by geothermal heat pumps — to qualify for its RPS program at least through 2025. It will offer Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to geothermal, biomass and solar, and project developers that are equivalent in value to those given for renewable electricity projects. The RECs will be worth up to $29 per MW/h of useful thermal energy produced.