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Get a Free QuoteHow to finance solar in New Hampshire with no federal tax credit and no state rebate. Cash, NEIF loan, HELOC, lease/PPA, and community solar — honest comparison.
25D ITC
$0
expired Dec 31, 2025
State Rebate
Repealed
SB 303 (2024)
Cash Payback
9.5 yrs
NEM 2.0 + rising rates
TPO ITC Deadline
Jul 4
2026 for lease/PPA
Two major incentives are gone. Here is the honest picture of what exists and what does not in New Hampshire as of 2026.
Dead. Expired December 31, 2025. $0 for homeowners who purchase or finance their own solar.
Dead. SB 303 permanently repealed the NH state solar rebate ($0.20/W, max $1,000) in 2024.
ALIVE — but only for third-party system owners (lease/PPA companies), not homeowners who buy. Deadline: July 4, 2026.
NEM 2.0 credits: ~85% of retail, locked through 2041
Property tax exemption: RSA 72:62 (~66% of towns, ~$584/yr savings)
No sales tax: NH has zero state sales tax on solar equipment
Rising rates: $0.27/kWh avg, trending up 3–5%/yr
Five paths to solar in New Hampshire in 2026. Each has different economics, ownership structure, and suitability depending on your situation.
Upfront
$22,400–$26,400
Monthly
$0 after purchase
25-yr Total Cost
~$24,200 (avg 8 kW)
Payback
~9.5 years
Best for: Homeowners with cash reserves who want maximum long-term return
Pros
Cons
Upfront
$0 down
Monthly
$140–$185/mo (8 kW @ 6–8% APR, 15yr)
25-yr Total Cost
~$30,000–$35,000 (with interest)
Payback
12–15 years (cash-flow positive from month 1 in many cases)
Best for: Homeowners who want ownership without large upfront payment
Pros
Cons
Upfront
$0 down (uses home equity)
Monthly
$120–$165/mo (8 kW @ 5–7% APR, 15yr)
25-yr Total Cost
~$28,000–$32,000 (with interest)
Payback
11–14 years
Best for: Homeowners with substantial equity who can get favorable HELOC rates
Pros
Cons
Upfront
$0
Monthly
Fixed rate (lease) or $/kWh (PPA) — typically 10–25% below utility rate
25-yr Total Cost
Varies — depends on escalator clause and utility rate trajectory
Payback
Immediate cash-flow savings from month 1
Best for: Homeowners who want immediate savings with zero upfront and zero ownership hassle. Also the ONLY path to ITC benefit remaining.
Pros
Cons
Upfront
$0
Monthly
Credits applied to utility bill — typically 5–15% savings
25-yr Total Cost
Pay-as-you-go savings on bill
Payback
Immediate bill savings — no payback period concept
Best for: Renters, homes unsuitable for rooftop solar (shading, HOA, wrong orientation), or those who want savings without any commitment
Pros
Cons
Head-to-head comparison of all five NH solar financing paths.
| Metric | Cash | NEIF Loan | HELOC | Lease/PPA | Community |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost (8 kW) | $24,200 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Monthly Payment | $0 | $140–185 | $120–165 | Rate varies | $0 extra (bill credit) |
| 25-Year Total Cost | ~$24,200 | ~$30–35K | ~$28–32K | Varies | Pay-as-you-go |
| You Own the System | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Federal ITC Benefit | None (expired) | None (expired) | None (expired) | Via company (Jul 4) | Partial |
| NEM 2.0 Credits | Full (~85% retail) | Full (~85% retail) | Full (~85% retail) | N/A (company owns) | Yes (off-site array) |
| Property Value Increase | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Home Sale Complexity | Low | Low | Medium | High (transfer or buyout) | Very Low |
The main solar loan options available to NH homeowners. NEIF is typically the best starting point for most NH solar borrowers.
Rate
5.99–8.99% APR
Term
5, 10, 15, or 20 years
Min FICO
640 FICO
Max Loan
$100,000
NEIF is the primary green lending program for NH energy improvements, backed by NH Energy Innovation Fund. Specifically designed for solar, heat pumps, and efficiency projects. No prepayment penalty. Available through NuWatt and participating NH installers.
Rate
6.50–9.50% APR
Term
5–15 years
Min FICO
660 FICO
Max Loan
$50,000
Vermont-based credit union serving northern New England, including NH. Offers unsecured solar loans with no prepayment penalty. Good option for borrowers who prefer credit union terms. Membership required.
Rate
5.49–8.99% APR (varies by installer)
Term
10, 15, or 25 years
Min FICO
650 FICO
Max Loan
$100,000
Point-of-sale financing offered through solar installers (not applied for directly). Ask your installer if they work with Sungage. 25-year term available for those wanting the lowest monthly payment.
Rate
5.99–9.99% APR
Term
10, 15, or 25 years
Min FICO
640 FICO
Max Loan
$125,000
Another installer-offered financing product available in NH. Ask if your installer offers Dividend. Good for those who want options beyond NEIF.
Deadline
July 4, 2026
Who Benefits
Third-party system owners (lease/PPA companies) — NOT homeowners
Credit Amount
30% base ITC (up to 40% with FEOC panels, 50% with energy community)
If you are considering a solar lease or PPA, act before July 4, 2026. After this date, the financing company loses the Section 48/48E ITC and will be unable to offer below-market rates. Most companies will adjust pricing upward after the deadline.
Note: The system owner (the lease/PPA company) claims the ITC — not you. But the economics flow to you as a lower electricity rate or lower monthly payment compared to what you would pay after July 4, 2026. The current Still available for third-party owned systems (TPO/PPA/lease) beginning construction before July 4, 2026. The financing company claims the 30% ITC, not the homeowner.
The math still works for most NH homeowners — despite no federal credit and no state rebate.
High electricity rates mean every kWh your panels produce saves more than in most states. Even without a tax credit, a typical 8 kW system saves $2,400–$2,800/year in electricity in the first year. That grows 3–5% annually as rates rise.
NH's NEM 2.0 credits (~85% of retail) are locked by Docket DE 16-576 through January 1, 2041. You have 15+ years of predictable export value. Many states are cutting net metering — NH has it locked in.
NH has zero state sales tax. On a $24,200 system, a MA buyer would pay $1,513 in sales tax. NH buyers pay $0. This is a real, automatic savings that partially offsets the loss of the rebate.
RSA 72:62 lets NH towns exempt solar panels from property tax assessment. In towns that have adopted it (about 200 of 300+), a typical 8 kW system saves ~$584/year. Over 25 years, that is $14,600 in property tax avoided.
Cash purchase delivers the best 25-year return in NH — approximately $90,000+ net savings after the system cost. However, if cash is not available, a solar loan (NEIF at 6–9% APR) provides ownership benefits with $0 down. The key 2026 factor: there is no federal tax credit for homeowners (25D expired) and no state rebate (SB 303 repealed). If you want to access ITC savings, a lease/PPA must be signed before July 4, 2026 — after that, the third-party ITC disappears.
Homeowners who purchase or finance solar cannot claim any federal tax credit — Section 25D expired on December 31, 2025 and is permanently dead under the OBBBA. However, if you choose a solar lease or PPA (third-party owned), the financing company can claim the commercial Section 48/48E ITC (30% base rate) and pass the savings to you as a below-market electricity rate. This option expires July 4, 2026 for new construction starts.
The Northeast Investment Fund (NEIF) is a green bank offering solar and energy improvement loans to NH homeowners. Rates range from 5.99–8.99% APR. Terms of 5, 10, 15, or 20 years. Minimum 640 FICO. NEIF loans are available through participating installers — ask your installer if they work with NEIF. NEIF does not require a prepayment penalty and is specifically designed for NH energy projects, including solar panels and heat pumps.
A lease or PPA offers immediate savings with $0 upfront and no maintenance responsibility. In NH in 2026, the Section 48/48E ITC (30%) is still available to the leasing company through July 4, 2026, and those savings are passed to you as a below-retail electricity rate. However, leases do not increase your home value, complicate home sales, and deliver less total savings than cash purchase over 25 years. If you can qualify for a loan, ownership is usually better. If cash flow is the only option, act before July 4, 2026 to capture any ITC benefit in the lease rate.
Yes, and a HELOC or home equity loan often offers the lowest interest rate of any solar financing option — typically 5–7% APR if you have strong equity and credit. The interest may also be tax-deductible (consult a tax advisor). The main risk: your home is collateral. If you have significant equity and a stable income, a HELOC can be the most cost-effective way to finance solar without a large upfront cash payment.
Community solar lets NH homeowners (and renters) subscribe to a share of an off-site solar array and receive credits on their utility bill — typically 5–15% savings. No rooftop, no installation, no ownership. Credits appear automatically on your Eversource, Unitil, or Liberty bill monthly. Availability is limited — there are often waitlists. Community solar is the best option if your roof is shaded, faces north, or an HOA prohibits rooftop panels.
Most NH solar installers offer in-house financing through partners like Sungage Financial, Dividend Finance, GreenSky, or Mosaic. Rates vary: 5.49–9.99% APR for 10–25 year terms. These are unsecured personal loans underwritten on your credit. They are convenient (part of the installation process) but may not always offer the lowest rate. Compare with NEIF, EastRise, and your bank's HELOC rates before committing to installer-offered financing.
New Hampshire does not currently have a state-sponsored zero-interest solar loan program. The NH state solar rebate was repealed (SB 303, 2024) and did not include zero-interest lending. NEIF is the closest to a subsidized option — it offers below-market rates through NH Energy Innovation Fund backing. Income-qualified households should ask about NHSaves income-eligible programs, which may include financing assistance for broader energy improvements.
Deeper dive into financing comparison with 25-year NPV analysis
Read more$2.80–$3.30/W city-by-city breakdown
Read moreWhy NH solar still works with no federal ITC
Read moreHow TPO/lease ITC flows to NH homeowners
Read moreNH net metering: ~85% retail, locked through 2041
Read more7-step timeline, 2.5–4 months end-to-end
Read moreGet a personalized solar quote with financing comparison — cash, NEIF loan, and lease/PPA options side by side. No obligation, no pressure.
No federal tax credit. No state rebate. Honest financing comparison based on NH's actual 2026 incentive landscape.