New Hampshire’s Climate Initiative: Unlocking Federal Funding for a Greener Future

New Hampshire’s climate funding is now available again. This follows a brief freeze of millions of dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

According to Jim Martin from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, all federal funding accounts are active. He stated that the state has been in touch with federal partners to advocate for funding without any delays in their activities.

While there’s no word from the Department of Energy about the $147 million intended for climate projects, there’s good news for lower-income communities. The Solar for All program, which allocates $43 million for solar power, is back on track.

In mid-February, the state could not access those funds, but an email from the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed that accounts are now open. They also mentioned that federal officials are ready to work with grant recipients again.

However, there’s a hold on a $17 million program aimed at expanding electric vehicle chargers across New Hampshire. This pause happened after federal officials decided to review the program. Despite this, the state’s Department of Transportation continues to work on the initial stage of the project, which includes four EV charging locations.

Across the country, about $20 million has been unfrozen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for various environmental programs. However, some programs are still under review to ensure they align with current directives. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has made commitments to honor existing contracts with farmers.

It’s uncertain if funding from the Rural Energy for America grant program, which has previously supported 36 projects in New Hampshire focused on solar power and energy efficiency, will be released after the review process.