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New Hampshire faces the full force of solar tariffs with no state rebate and no federal residential ITC. Multiple overlapping tariff layers are pushing panel costs up $0.10-0.25 per watt. Here is how to navigate the tariff landscape, which panels to choose, and why NEM 2.0 credits still make solar pencil out.
The US solar industry faces the most complex tariff environment in its history. Four separate trade actions — each with its own legal basis, rate structure, and exemption rules — are stacking on top of each other. The combined effective tariff rate on imported solar modules from Southeast Asia, which supplies most of the US residential market, now ranges from 35% to 55%.
For New Hampshire homeowners, the tariff impact is compounded by two additional factors: the federal residential ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025, and the state solar rebate was repealed by SB 303 in 2024. This makes New Hampshire one of the most challenging incentive environments in New England. However, NEM 2.0 credits locked through 2041, no state sales tax, and the Section 48E commercial ITC for lease/PPA deals still provide meaningful pathways to solar savings.
Imposed in 2018 on imported crystalline silicon PV cells and modules. Extended through February 2026 with escalating rates. Applies to virtually all imported modules regardless of country of origin, with the first 5 GW of cells annually exempt.
Anti-dumping and countervailing duties target Chinese-manufactured cells, including those routed through Southeast Asian countries (Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam). The Commerce Department confirmed circumvention findings in 2024. The two-year moratorium expired June 2024 and these duties now fully apply.
Broad tariffs on Chinese goods including solar panels, inverters, racking, and balance-of-system equipment. Combined with AD/CVD, Chinese module imports face 50%+ effective rates, making them uneconomical for the US market.
Additional tariffs targeting solar imports from Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand — countries that supply the majority of US residential panels. These are layered on top of existing Section 201 and AD/CVD duties, phasing in through mid-2026.
Chinese-manufactured panels face 50%+ effective rates, making direct import uneconomical. Panels from Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand — which historically supplied 80%+ of the US residential market — now carry 35-50% combined tariffs. Only panels manufactured in non-tariff-affected countries (South Korea, North America, Singapore) avoid most of these layers.
New Hampshire solar costs currently average $3.03 per watt, ranging from $2.78 to $3.25 depending on system size, panel tier, and utility territory. Tariffs have added $0.10-0.25/W to these prices compared to 2024 levels. For a typical 11 kW system, that is $1,100 to $2,750 more than you would have paid 18 months ago from tariff escalation alone.
The tariff increase compounds a double loss unique to New Hampshire: the federal residential tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025, and the state eliminated its solar rebate program via SB 303 in 2024. Pre-tariff in 2024, an NH homeowner could offset system cost with both the 30% ITC and a state rebate. Now both are gone. The out-of-pocket cost has increased significantly, though NEM 2.0 credits and zero state sales tax still help the long-term economics.
| Cost Component | Pre-Tariff (2024) | Current (Q1 2026) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Cost (per watt) | $0.30-0.35 | $0.40-0.50 | +$0.10-0.15 |
| Inverter + BOS | $0.55-0.65 | $0.60-0.70 | +$0.05 |
| Labor + Overhead | $0.85-1.00 | $0.90-1.05 | +$0.05 |
| Installer Margin + Soft Costs | $0.80-0.95 | $0.85-1.00 | +$0.05 |
| Total System Cost ($/W) | $2.50-2.95 | $2.78-3.25 | +$0.10-0.25 |
| System Size | Pre-Tariff (2024) | Current (Q1 2026) | Tariff Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 kW System | $22,000 | $22,240-24,240 | +$240-2,240 |
| 10 kW System | $27,500 | $27,800-30,300 | +$300-2,800 |
| 11 kW System (NH avg) | $30,250 | $30,580-33,330 | +$330-3,080 |
| 14 kW System | $38,500 | $38,920-42,420 | +$420-3,920 |
Beyond the tariffs you see in trade headlines, there is a separate policy that quietly reshapes which solar panels work for which financing paths. FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) rules determine whether a third-party system owner — the company behind your lease or PPA — can claim the 30% Section 48E commercial investment tax credit.
If a panel is manufactured by or contains critical components from an entity controlled by China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea, it is FEOC-non-compliant. The financing company cannot claim the 48E ITC on that system. Without the 30% credit, the company must recover their full investment from your monthly payments — meaning significantly higher lease/PPA rates.
For cash and loan buyers, FEOC is not directly relevant. You can choose any panel tier, including the most affordable options from non-FEOC-compliant manufacturers. But for lease, PPA, or NuWatt Propel customers, FEOC compliance is a hard requirement. In New Hampshire, where there is no state rebate or federal residential ITC, the Section 48E credit accessible through lease/PPA is the single most valuable remaining incentive for going solar.
Eligible for Section 48E ITC in lease/PPA deals. Lower tariff exposure.
Fine for cash/loan purchases. Cannot qualify for 48E ITC in lease/PPA.
The Section 48E commercial ITC requires projects to begin construction before July 4, 2026. After that date, third-party system owners (lease/PPA companies) lose access to the 30% tax credit — regardless of panel FEOC status. For New Hampshire homeowners, this is especially critical because the 48E ITC is the only remaining tax credit pathway. Missing this deadline means no federal incentive of any kind for your solar installation.
Not all panels are affected equally by tariffs. Country of origin, manufacturing supply chain, and FEOC compliance all determine your real cost and financing options. Here is how NuWatt's three panel tiers compare.
Cash or loan buyers seeking lowest upfront cost
Lease/PPA, Propel financing, or anyone wanting FEOC assurance
Premium installations, max efficiency, roof-space constrained
For cash/loan buyers, Hyundai 440W saves ~$770 on an 11 kW system compared to Silfab. Without a state rebate or ITC, minimizing upfront cost matters more in NH than in neighboring states. For lease/PPA buyers, Silfab is the most cost-effective FEOC option — the 48E ITC more than offsets the base price difference. REC 460W (+$0.19/W) is worth considering only when roof space is limited and you need maximum watts per square foot.
Tariffs and FEOC rules affect each financing path differently. In New Hampshire, where there is no state rebate and no residential ITC, the choice between cash, loan, and lease/PPA is more consequential than in states with stronger incentive stacks.
You cannot control tariff policy, but you can control your timing, panel selection, and strategy. These five actions reduce the tariff hit on your solar investment in New Hampshire.
If you are considering a lease, PPA, or Propel financing, begin construction before July 4, 2026. After that date, the third-party system owner loses access to the 30% Section 48E ITC, which means higher monthly payments for you.
Cash and loan buyers can save with Hyundai 440W panels (-$0.07/W). Lease/PPA customers must use FEOC-compliant panels (Silfab or REC) but benefit from the 48E ITC pass-through. Match your panel tier to your financing method.
New Hampshire NEM 2.0 credits approximately 85% of the retail rate — covering 100% of supply, 100% of transmission, and 25% of distribution charges. At $0.27/kWh, an 11 kW system producing ~13,600 kWh/year offsets roughly $3,132 annually. These credits are locked through 2041, providing two decades of stable savings that dwarf the tariff increase.
Over 40% of NH customers are in Community Power Coalition of NH (CPCNH) territories with competitive supply rates. If your town participates, net metering credits may be calculated against higher base rates, improving the value of each exported kilowatt-hour. Check if your municipality has opted into CPCNH.
NuWatt pre-purchased Hyundai 440W and Silfab 440W panels before the latest tariff increases. While warehouse stock lasts, your system price reflects pre-tariff module costs. Once depleted, replacements carry the full tariff burden.
New Hampshire has a thinner incentive stack than neighboring states, but the programs that do exist still provide meaningful value. NEM 2.0 credits, no sales tax, property tax exemptions, and the Section 48E pathway for lease/PPA customers collectively shorten the payback period.
Net energy metering credits cover 100% supply + 100% transmission + 25% distribution. Locked through 2041 via RSA 362-A. Not 1:1, but still strong value.
About 66% of NH towns have adopted the solar property tax exemption. Saves roughly $584/year in avoided property tax increases. Check your municipality.
Third-party system owner claims 30% ITC on FEOC-compliant panels. Lowers your lease/PPA rate. Requires construction to begin before July 4, 2026.
Over 40% of NH customers access lower supply rates through municipal aggregation. Net metering credits calculated against these rates may vary by provider.
New Hampshire has no state sales tax on anything, including solar equipment and installation. This is a built-in advantage over neighboring states like MA (6.25%) and ME (5.5%).
New Hampshire eliminated its state solar rebate program via SB 303 in 2024. There is no replacement program. Federal and local incentives are the only offsets available.
For cash buyers, the tariff increase of $1,100-2,750 is absorbed within approximately 1 year of NEM 2.0 savings. Over 25 years, an 11 kW system in NH generates $78,000-95,000+ in total value (avoided electricity + property tax savings). For lease/PPA buyers who access the 48E ITC before July 4, 2026, the economics are even stronger with day-one savings and no upfront cost.
Understanding the timeline helps you decide when to act. The window for pre-tariff inventory and the Section 48E deadline are the two most time-sensitive factors for NH homeowners.
Two-year pause on Southeast Asian anti-dumping duties ended. Separately, New Hampshire eliminated its state solar rebate program, removing the last state-level direct incentive.
Federal residential solar tax credit dropped to $0. NH homeowners no longer receive any federal tax benefit for cash/loan solar purchases. Combined with the lost state rebate, NH now has the thinnest incentive stack in New England.
Safeguard tariff extended. Additional executive action tariffs on Southeast Asian panels beginning to take effect.
Pre-tariff inventory still available from some installers. NEM 2.0 credits locked through 2041. Best window for locking pricing before further tariff increases.
Last day to begin construction and qualify for 30% commercial ITC on lease/PPA deals. After this date, third-party financing costs increase significantly.
New executive action tariffs fully phased in. Pre-tariff inventory expected to be depleted. Projected NH pricing: $3.15-3.45/W.
Tariffs are adding approximately $0.10-0.25 per watt to solar panel costs in New Hampshire. For a typical 11 kW system, that translates to $1,100-2,750 in additional cost. The impact comes from multiple overlapping tariff layers: Section 201 safeguard tariffs (14.75%), AD/CVD anti-dumping duties (15-250% on specific manufacturers), Section 301 China tariffs (25%), and new Southeast Asian duties (14-25%). The total effective rate on imported modules ranges from approximately 35-55% depending on country of origin.
FEOC stands for Foreign Entity of Concern. Under current rules, solar panels manufactured by or containing critical components from entities controlled by China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea are considered FEOC-non-compliant. This matters because third-party system owners (lease/PPA companies) can only claim the 30% Section 48E commercial ITC if the panels are FEOC-compliant. For NH homeowners choosing a lease or PPA, using FEOC-compliant panels like Silfab (made in North America) or REC means lower monthly payments because the financing company can claim the tax credit. The FEOC requirement for 48E eligibility applies to projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026.
Yes, but the payback period is longer. With the federal residential ITC (25D) expired and the state rebate repealed by SB 303, NH homeowners rely on NEM 2.0 credits (~85% of retail), property tax exemptions (RSA 72:62, available in ~66% of towns), and zero sales tax. At $0.27/kWh, an 11 kW system producing ~13,600 kWh/year offsets approximately $3,132 in annual electricity costs. Even at the post-tariff price of $33,330, the simple payback is roughly 10-11 years, leaving 15+ years of essentially free electricity on a 25-year panel warranty. A lease or PPA with Section 48E can provide day-one savings with no upfront cost.
The data favors acting sooner. There is no indication tariffs will decrease under the current administration, and multiple tariff layers are still phasing in through mid-2026. Waiting means: (1) higher module prices as pre-tariff inventory depletes, (2) missing the July 4, 2026 Section 48E deadline for lease/PPA deals, and (3) continued electricity bills at $0.27/kWh with rates trending upward. The federal residential ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 with no scheduled return, and NH repealed its state rebate in 2024. There is no upcoming incentive to wait for.
FEOC-compliant panels manufactured in North America, like Silfab panels made in Ontario, Canada and Bellingham, WA, face significantly lower tariff exposure. They are not subject to AD/CVD duties, Section 301 China tariffs, or the new Southeast Asian duties. They may still face some Section 201 tariff on imported cells, but the overall tariff burden is much lower than Southeast Asian alternatives. This is why FEOC-compliant panels, while slightly higher in base price, offer better long-term value and are required for lease/PPA financing that accesses the 48E ITC.
Cash buyers in NH have the most flexibility since FEOC compliance is not required for a direct purchase. The Hyundai 440W is the most affordable option at -$0.07/W below the base price, offering solid performance with a 25-year warranty. Without a state rebate or federal ITC, minimizing upfront cost is especially important in NH. For homeowners who want higher efficiency or longer warranties, the Silfab 440W (base price, 30-year warranty) or REC 460W (+$0.19/W, highest efficiency at 22.3%) are worth considering. The Hyundai saves roughly $770 on an 11 kW system compared to Silfab.
New Hampshire NEM 2.0 credits solar production at approximately 85% of the retail electric rate — covering 100% of supply, 100% of transmission, and 25% of distribution charges. At the average rate of $0.27/kWh, credits are worth roughly $0.23/kWh. For an 11 kW system producing ~13,600 kWh/year, that offsets about $3,132 in annual electricity costs. NEM 2.0 credits are locked through 2041 under RSA 362-A, providing 15+ years of guaranteed savings regardless of tariff-inflated panel costs. The tariff increase of $1,100-2,750 is recovered within 1-2 years of additional NEM savings.
Yes. With a lease or PPA, the financing company owns the system and absorbs the equipment cost, including tariff impact. Your payment is fixed upfront and does not change based on module pricing. Additionally, the financing company can claim the 30% Section 48E commercial ITC for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026, which lowers the cost they need to recover from your payments. However, the panels must be FEOC-compliant (Silfab or REC), which are slightly more expensive at the base level. After July 4, 2026, lease/PPA pricing will likely increase because the 48E ITC becomes unavailable.
After July 4, 2026, the Section 48E commercial ITC is no longer available for new solar projects. This directly impacts lease and PPA pricing because the third-party system owner can no longer claim the 30% tax credit. Without that credit, the financing company must recover their full investment from your monthly payments, which means higher lease/PPA rates. For cash and loan buyers, the FEOC deadline is less relevant since the residential ITC (Section 25D) already expired December 31, 2025. However, tariffs are expected to continue increasing, so waiting past this date still means higher module costs.
New Hampshire electric rates average $0.27/kWh across the state: Eversource at $0.25/kWh, Liberty at $0.24/kWh, Unitil at $0.26/kWh, and NHEC at $0.22/kWh. While these rates are lower than neighboring Massachusetts ($0.28-0.32/kWh), they are still among the highest in the country nationally. An 11 kW system producing 13,600 kWh/year offsets approximately $3,132 in annual electricity costs at NH NEM 2.0 rates. At that savings rate, even a $2,750 tariff increase adds less than one year to the payback period. NH rates have been trending upward, which further strengthens the solar value proposition over time.
All costs, incentives, and utility data for New Hampshire.
Read guideCurrent pricing by utility territory and system size.
Read guideHow third-party financing works with tariffs and FEOC.
Read guideWhich financing path works best with tariffs and no ITC.
Read guideHow commercial ITC benefits flow to lease/PPA customers.
Read guideThe math on why solar still works without the ITC.
Read guideHow NEM 2.0 credits work and what they are actually worth.
Read guidePre-tariff inventory is limited. The FEOC deadline for lease/PPA deals is July 4, 2026. Every month without solar is $200-300+ paid to the utility company at NH rates. Start your custom design now and lock your price.
Free custom design. No commitment. Price locked at signing.