Belknap County, NH — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

None codified at county level. SEC sets conditions for ≥5 MW; municipal ordinances govern <5 MW.

Municipal Planning Board (sub-5 MW). SEC jurisdiction for ≥5 MW.

Mixed — Lake Winnipesaukee resort identity; limited utility-scale land; local governs sub-threshold

Lakes Region; Laconia area; Lake Winnipesaukee resort; limited utility-scale solar land; local governs <5 MW; SEC ≥30 MW; resort/lake identity

Stable

NH Site Evaluation Committee (SEC, RSA Ch.162-H): mandatory certificate of site and facility for energy facilities ≥30 MW. Projects 5–30 MW: SEC may review on its own motion or upon petition of applicant or 2 parties. Sub-5 MW: local zoning/planning board governs. No statewide preemption of local ordinances — NH has strong home rule tradition. Local boards (ZBA, planning board) retain authority for sub-threshold projects. NH DES reviews environmental impacts for any size project. NH has no community solar program and minimal state solar policy infrastructure. ISO-NE interconnection required statewide.

NH Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS): 25.2% renewable by 2025; solar carve-out 0.3% — smallest in New England, creating minimal state-mandated solar demand. Net metering: available up to 1 MW for most customer classes; NH legislature has repeatedly limited expansion of net metering. Community Power: several NH municipalities (Concord, Durham, Nashua, Keene etc.) participate in Community Power Coalition for aggregated purchasing. NH Economic Revitalization Zone tax credits: limited solar applicability. Utility: Eversource NH (PSNH) serves most of state; Liberty Utilities serves Granite State Electric territory; Unitil serves Concord/Manchester area; NH Electric Cooperative (NHEC) serves rural areas.

Belknap County (Laconia area), central New Hampshire — Lake Winnipesaukee region. Eversource (PSNH) serves Belknap County. NH total 184 MW installed 2024 — lowest in New England. NH RPS has only 0.3% solar carve-out. Belknap County: Lakes Region tourism; limited ground-mount solar on lakeside terrain. Some commercial solar on industrial land in Laconia area.

No confirmed NH SEC (Site Evaluation Committee) denials for Belknap County.