Cheshire 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.

Generally receptive — KSC progressive; agricultural; active solar; local governs sub-threshold

SW NH; Keene (Keene State College) area; Monadnock region; progressive; active solar in agricultural areas; local governs <5 MW; SEC ≥30 MW

Improving

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.

Chinook Solar | 30 MW | Fitzwilliam, Cheshire County | NextEra Energy; NH SEC approved Oct 19 2020 (first-ever NH utility-scale SEC approval) | CANCELLED — project did not proceed; listed as cancelled on Global Energy Monitor (gem.wiki, last edited June 1 2024). Chariot Solar | 50 MW | Hinsdale, Cheshire County | NextEra Energy; proposed but never received SEC approval or power purchase contract — status unclear/likely abandoned as of 2024. Net result: no large operational utility-scale solar confirmed in Cheshire County.

Chinook Solar (30 MW, Fitzwilliam) — SEC-approved Oct 2020 but CANCELLED; never constructed (Global Energy Monitor confirmed cancelled). Chariot Solar (50 MW, Hinsdale) — never received SEC approval; abandoned.