Hillsborough 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 favorable — growing Boston suburb; active commercial solar; land constraint

S NH; Manchester/Nashua area (UNH Manchester/SNHU/Rivier); Boston suburb fringe; growing; limited utility-scale land; commercial/community solar primary; 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.

Milford Solar (proposed/development stage) | 20 MW | Milford, Hillsborough County | Olivewood (formerly Granite Apollo); in development as of Nov 2020 (Granite Geek/Concord Monitor); status unclear as of 2024-2025. NHPR largest rooftop array: ReVision Energy 1 MW+ at Manchester beer distributor (Manchester is Hillsborough County). Eversource NH / PSNH serves Hillsborough County. NH is weakest New England solar state; Hillsborough is Manchester metro.

No confirmed NH SEC denials for Hillsborough County; Milford 20 MW status unconfirmed.