Repeals the local property tax exemption for solar energy systems and removes related references throughout state tax law.
repealing the solar energy systems tax exemption.
HB1002 would repeal New Hampshire's decades-old law allowing towns and cities to locally exempt residential solar energy systems from property taxes. Every written submission reviewed opposes the bill, arguing it strips communities of a self-adopted local option, retroactively penalizes existing solar owners without grandfathering, and works against the state's clean-energy, grid-resilience, and affordability goals.
Submitters argue the solar tax exemption is a local option many communities adopted through town meeting votes, and that repealing the enabling law overrides that local self-governance and predictability.
“HB 1002 undermines local autonomy and predictability. The existing exemption has long functioned as a practical local planning and economic development tool.”
— Bill Baber, Dover · #543804 — read full submission →
“the decision to allow solar abatements is made by individual communities, more than 90% via Town Meeting - which is widely recognized as "the purest form of democracy".”
— Garth Fletcher, Mason · #543263 — read full submission →
Submitters argue removing the exemption will make solar less attractive and affordable, reducing future installations and hurting local installers, builders, and the broader clean-energy market.
Submitters state the bill would directly increase their property tax bills, imposing new costs on households that installed solar under the existing exemption.
Submitters argue the bill applies to existing solar systems with no grandfathering, punishing homeowners who invested based on the exemption being in place and undermining confidence in government commitments.
Some submitters speculate the bill serves fossil-fuel, utility, or other outside interests rather than public benefit, or accuse sponsors of hypocrisy on local control.
Submitters contend the tax revenue gained from repealing the exemption is minor compared to the costs of increased grid capacity, administrative burden, or economic harm, calling the trade-off short-sighted.
Submitters frame the bill as a step backward on climate change, arguing the state should be encouraging solar adoption rather than discouraging it.
Submitters argue residential solar reduces peak demand and delays costly grid infrastructure investment, benefiting all electricity customers, not just solar owners, so discouraging it would raise costs broadly.
Submitters argue fossil fuel producers benefit from tax breaks throughout their supply chain, so the solar property tax exemption simply provides comparable parity rather than special treatment.
A number of submitters argue it is inappropriate, and possibly illegal, for government to tax electricity that residents generate for their own personal use, framing it as a basic right.
A smaller number of submitters emphasize that the bill would fall hardest on residents least able to absorb higher costs, including those on fixed or lower incomes.
Generated by claude-sonnet-5 (claude code agent) on Jul 22, 2026. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, verified against the cited submission before publication. Summaries are AI interpretation of the record, not part of it.
Please OPPOSE this bill. This is a classic case of "penny-wise & pound-foolish", saving very little (pennies) by refusing to invest in the energy infrastructure that will provide free energy and stimulate economic activity. In the end, this bill will increase energy costs, which is not what our residents want or need.
We should not be repealing the ability for cities and towns to grant property tax breaks for solar power systems. Our planet is in crisis. The federal government has its head in the sand and is bending over backwards to please giant oil company executives who donated millions of dollars to the Trump campaign. Government at other levels needs to be less corrupt and to actually help the citizens of the planet. We need more renewable energy. We need to stop using fossil fuels. We need any incentive we can possibly generate to encourage solar power, wind power, geothermal power, wave power - you name it. The price of renewable has declined so much! They are the fiscally responsible choice at this point! Do not repeal property tax breaks for solar power. It is a move in the wrong direction. Thank you.
How dumb can you be to remove solar energy incentives.
I oppose this bill. New Hampshire should be doing all it can to incentivize distributed energy generation to reduce strain on the grid. The small amount of revenue the exemption would provide is nothing compared to the costs of building increased energy capacity. Repealing the solar energy systems tax exemption does not make sense for New Hampshire.
I oppose removing solar tax credits. They are a valuable incentive to increasing residential solar adoption, which is good for the electrical grid and all electricity customers. It is also reneging on a promise provided to all current solar owners that they would not be taxed on the value of their PV solar installation.
I use solar energy and believe it is an important tool in combatting climate change and protecting our planet for future generations .
HB1002 would repeal New Hampshire’s long-standing law that allows towns and cities to exempt residential solar energy systems from local property taxes, stripping municipalities of a voluntary, locally controlled option and raising costs for homeowners who invested in solar under existing rules. This bill in effect is unfunded mandate to towns and cities, while the current enables them to either exempt or not to exempt solar energy installations from the impact of local property valuations. This bill raises taxes overall while it penalizes clean energy investments, and undermines local decision-making.
This bill harms our environment and economy and keeps us on track to become the most expensive fuel economy in the world.
"The New Hampshire Constitution establishes the state's framework for governance, including the powers and limitations of the legislature. However, it does not explicitly grant the legislature a constitutional right to determine property tax exemptions for local cities and towns. The Constitution does outline the structure of government and individual rights, but specific provisions regarding local tax exemptions are not detailed." Local solar property tax exemptions are a choice made by municipalities, not a mandate. Towns that adopt them do so because they: Encourage residents to invest in clean, locally produced energy; Help stabilize long-term household energy costs; Support local installers and small businesses; Reduce strain on the electric grid; and Align with local climate, resilience and energy goals Repealing the enabling law, which has been in place since the 1970's, takes this choice away from communities, penalizes residents who invested in solar in good faith under existing rules. Fossil fuel energy sources get tax breaks all along their production chain, and so this is just giving solar parity with fossil fuels. This bill does not lower taxes overall. It shifts costs and creates new disincentives for clean energy investments that benefit the public. Because I firmly believe that individual biases and outside interests played a roll in this bill being brought forward, I want to present as a reminder a part of legislators' oath of office: I, A.B. do solemnly and sincerely swear and affirm that I will faithfully and IMPARTIALLY discharge and perform all duties incumbent on me as …, according to the best of my abilities, agreeably to the rules and regulations of this constitution and laws of the state of New Hampshire. So help me God. Please OPPOSE this harmful bill. Thank you
This bill has (at least) two fundamental problems: 1) The state should do what it can to encourage the deployment of clean energy production. This bill does the opposite. 2) The state should not take local control away from communities that wish to use incentives to promote private clean energy production. This bill seeks to eliminate local control.
I oppose HB1002 because it would repeal the solar energy systems tax exemption, hampering our state’s renewable energy efforts. I represent the Town of Lyme, and their Lyme Energy Committee Chair wrote to me expressly in opposition to this legislation. He and I agree that the exemptions give municipalities the option to exempt residential solar systems from property taxes (an important property tax relief tool), and many communities rely on it to support local clean energy, household affordability, and local control. We believe repeal would discourage solar investment and take decision-making power away from towns and cities. We urge you to ITL HB1002.
To whom it may concern: I’m writing in strong opposition to HB1002. I’ve been off-grid for the past 30 years, and although I’ve been a recipient of the tax benefit for solar energy systems since its inception, I’m not opposing this bill for financial considerations, as the amount of credit I receive is trivial. I find it hypocritical of the bill sponsors to purport support of local control, and then to propose legislation such as this. The Town voted to allow this credit, and that vote should stand. Besides that, New Hampshire should be encouraging the use of clean and renewable energy sources that reduce costs to ALL end users. We should also be encouraging the use of storage systems to stabilize the grid and provide buffering for capacity allocation. New Hampshire lags behind all other Northeast states in energy policy, and indeed far behind well considered international policies. If we continue on this path our country will lose it’s position as a global leader in all meaningful areas. We can continue to be the leading supplier of fossil fuels in a world that has increasingly limited use for them.
Just another bill to take away local control and shift more tax burden to property owners. This after eliminating Interest and Dividends tax. When will the state finally spread the tax burden with a broad base tax. At least a consumption tax!
I have lived in this town for some 35 years, I have witnessed many changes during this time, but the one that presently stands out as a great benefactor for our community is the promotion of solar energy, and giving a small tax exemption for the cause will, and has benefitted the town, Please continue this energy encouragement,,, Thank You Andy Blais
I oppose Bill HB1002 because it will further discourage solar installations that lower costs for residents and also serve to make NH's energy supply more resilient.
This bill would remove the control of what tax exemptions a municipality may make and that goes against everything NH stands for. Local municipalities know what their own communities’ needs and challenges are much better than state legislators do. Towns and cities have their own thoughtfully established tax programs in place which should not be overridden by legislative over-reach.
As a resident of New Hampshire for nearly 50 years I’m writing to urge you to oppose HB1002, which would repeal New Hampshire’s solar property tax exemption statute. This law gives municipalities the option to exempt residential solar systems from property taxes, and many communities rely on it to support local clean energy, household affordability, and local control. Not only is this law essential for life in New Hampshire, supporting clean energy is essential for our future and quality of life on this planet. Repealing it would discourage solar investment and take decision-making power away from towns and cities. Please reject HB1002 and preserve local choice.!!
Opposing this bill is in the best interest of NH and its citizens. We are paying attention to all of the free stater attempts to dismantle functional and effective government. Keep dark money priorities and out of state interests/agendas out of the Granite State.
I oppose this bill. My husband and I made an investment on our property when we installed solar panels. We benefit from the tax exemption offered for solar energy systems; this bill will increase costs for us. Please encourage investment in renewable energy instead of making investment harder for citizens, schools and small businesses. I also am opposed to the state imposing rules that undermine our local control. Ellen Farnum
I am opposed to hospital 1002 that would remove the tax break for our solar assistance in residential homes. At a time of global warming in New England we need all the energy we can get. This is an absolutely horrific bill. We should be investing more in solar, wind, and other renewable resources. I put my money out there 12 years ago with the understanding that at least a small way the state supported my effort to be responsible citizen.
Repealing the solar energy systems tax exemption would mean stripping away one of the most popular incentives for renewable energy we've had available. My household has benefited from this option, and many of my neighbors have as well--households spanning a range of political orientations and tax brackets. If you vote OTP, it may be hard to explain or defend your decision, and that's because this proposal makes very little sense to ordinary people.
I oppose this bill as it works against local choice, fairness, and keeping New Hampshire communities free to manage their own energy futures. Local solar property tax exemptions are a choice made by municipalities, not a mandate. Towns that adopt them do so because they: • Encourage residents to invest in clean, locally produced energy; • Help stabilize long-term household energy costs; • Support local installers and small businesses; • Reduce strain on the electric grid; and • Align with local climate, resilience and energy goals. Repealing the enabling law takes this choice away from communities and penalizes residents who invested in solar in good faith under existing rules. This bill does not lower taxes overall. It shifts costs, creates fairness issues for those who invested in solar energy systems in good faith, and creates new disincentives for clean energy investments that benefit the public. I encourage the committee to reject this ill-conceived bill.
I urge you to oppose HB1002, repealing New Hampshire’s long standing solar property tax exemption statute. This law gives municipalities (including my own) the option to exempt residential solar systems from property taxes, and many communities rely on it to support local clean energy, household affordability, and local control. Repealing it would discourage investment in "homegrown" energy, slow progress toward energy independence and affordability, and take decision-making power away from towns and cities. Please reject HB1002 and preserve local choice.
This bill will have negative impacts on the state, its residences and local businesses; and not just solar installers or hardware vendors. The solar industry helps individual homeowners reduce our collective reliance on large scale power providers, many of them out of state thus keeping more money within the state.. With the rapid increase in demand for electricity by A.I. server farms, this bill will reduce future solar investments by homeowners and thus help drive up electricity costs for all consumers even more rapidly, as solar investment become less attractive and less affordable. Higher energy costs will reduce discretionary income further dampening economic growth within our state. A solar panel system has a limited lifespan that does not necessarily make the home more attractive to future buyers. Ultimately a 15 or 20 year old solar panel system will be a liability that will require replacement or decommissioning at considerable cost. This bill will sacrifice long term prosperity in exchange for short term gain.
So many reasons to oppose this bill. Supporting this bill leads to homeowners with solar would pay higher taxes, towns and cities would lose local control over their tax policy, local solar business would see reduced demand etc.