Merrimack 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 — state capital; mixed community; active solar; local governs sub-threshold

C NH; Concord (state capital/NHTI) area; mixed suburban/rural; active solar in rural 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.

Merrimack Solar Farm / Fidelity Investments Campus | 3 MW | Merrimack, NH | SunRun; operational 2019 | Merrimack county seat; was NH's largest array for years. Concord (state capital) has municipal arrays via Community Power/aggregation. Eversource NH (PSNH) serves Merrimack County. Hopkinton-Webster Transfer Station solar | 75 MW proposed | Hopkinton, Merrimack Co. | Olivewood; proposed ~2020-2021; status unclear as of 2025.

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