A quick FAQ about the ETAP program

1. What is the ETAP program?

   Energy Technical Assistance and Planning for New Hampshire Communities (ETAP) is a federally funded program designed to raise awareness in NH communities of the benefits of energy efficiency planning and to provide the tools they need to realize those benefits. The ETAP program can save tax payers money through reduced utility bills on municipal facilities and help reduce the environmental impacts of energy consumption. ETAP is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 through the U.S. Department of Energy and administered by the NH Office of Energy and Planning.

   The ETAP team is comprised of staff from twelve organizations: CLF Ventures, the non-profit consulting affiliate of the Conservation Law Foundation; Peregrine Energy Group, Inc., an energy consulting firm; the non-profit Clean Air- Cool Planet and the nine New Hampshire Regional Planning Commissions.

2. What services will the program provide to my community?

   ETAP will assist your community to manage energy use and identify opportunities for energy cost reduction. The ETAP team will work with local government representatives to help implement opportunities, strategies and technologies to reduce energy use, providing easy-to-use tools to track your community’s savings, and collaborating with them to identify the technical and financial resources required to develop projects.

3. Does a community have to write a proposal to participate in the program?

   No. Simply, contact your local Regional Planning Commission. Or contact the Technical Assistance Coordinator for the program, Eric Halter of CLF Ventures, via phone at 603-225-3060 x14 or via email at ehalter@clf.org. You can get more information by visiting us online at www.etapnhc.org.

4. Will there be a cost to my community to participate in ETAP?

   No, there is no charge for participating in this program. But you will need to provide ETAP with access to municipal utility and other energy data. To initiate the process, authorized personnel need to sign a release of your municipal/county utility data to ETAP for inclusion into an inventory database.

5. How much time will be required of local staff or volunteers if we participate?

   Although ETAP is free, it does require active municipal participation, and the more a community is willing to get involved, the greater the benefit that will result. Your commitment of staff and/or volunteer time and resources could vary with your community’s interests and priorities and where you are in energy planning and implementation. Community involvement is a key to ultimate success. For greater efficiency, we will make efforts to establish roles and responsibilities from the onset, as well as assist in securing the resources required for a successful program.

6. How do I get started?

   There are several ways to get started. You can contact your local Regional Planning Commission, or contact the Technical Assistance Coordinator for the program, Eric Halter of CLF Ventures, via phone at 603-225-3060 x14 or via email at ehalter@clf.org. You can get more information, by visiting us online at www.etapnhc.org.

7. How long do I have to join the program?

   Early engagement in ETAP is encouraged to give the ETAP team the most time to determine your interests and opportunities and develop and implement strategies for energy cost reduction. Like other ARRA-funded programs, the project goes until mid-2012. Communities may register anytime in the first two years. We plan to provide assistance on a first-come, first-served basis.