7.1.2026 Portsmouth Energy Advisory Committee

The City of Portsmouth Energy Advisory Committee met on July 8, 2026, to discuss several energy-related procurement and policy issues. A significant portion of the meeting focused on evaluating solar energy project options at Jones Avenue, including financial analyses of different system configurations, net metering assumptions, and the impact of potential federal Investment Tax Credits (ITC). The committee reviewed consultant presentations on project costs, cash flow projections, and permitting considerations, with discussions about bonding capacity and alternative financing approaches. Additionally, the committee addressed the policy and communication challenges related to customer refreshes in the community power aggregation program, debating thresholds for automatic enrollment and the need for improved communication strategies. The committee also discussed upcoming procurement steps, including soliciting RFPs for solar installations on city buildings, and approved meeting minutes by motion. No direct contract awards were made during this meeting, but several action items related to procurement planning and policy recommendations were identified.