NH Solar Shares

NH Solar Shares in partnership with many community partners including the NH Electric Cooperative, designs and installs community-based solar PV arrays. The program is run by the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative in Plymouth, NH. NH Solar Shares brings multiple wins to our communities:

– Sharing proceeds generated from solar energy with low income families,
– Increasing the portion of clean renewable energy on our grid,
– Contributing to building healthier, more sustainable communities and
– Addressing the issue of equitable access to clean energy in our region.

Each array is inspired by a task force of local volunteers and built using funds from grants, crowd funding, individual donors, fundraisers and/or the state’s solar rebate program. The first project was built in Plymouth, NH on land donated by the Common Man Family of Restaurants. It includes two solar pavilions and a solar education trail that is open to the public. The second project was built on donated roof space at Appleknockers General Store in Warren, NH. The initial goal is to install three projects totaling 125kW by 2022. The solar will be installed by NH solar installers with the help of PAREI staff and volunteers to prep the site.

In 2020, NH Solar Shares solar arrays generated $5900 in solar energy bill credits for 19 families. Solar energy is the gift that keeps on giving back…to families and our environment. If you would like to help us build our third array in the Plymouth area community please visit this donation link. https://plymouthenergy.org/donate/

NH Solar Shares Announces Third Array Site Location

Lakes Region Conservation Trust Partners with NH Solar Shares to Host a Community Solar Project

Center Harbor: Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT) has announced their plans to partner with NH Solar Shares to bring a small community solar PV project to the Center Harbor region that will provide solar bill credits to families in need of assistance with their electric bill. LRCT will host the project in the field behind their office on Route 25B in Center Harbor. It will consist of approximately 120 panels totaling a 40kW ground mounted solar array.

NH Solar Shares, a program of the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI), set out with the mission to “Share the Sun with Neighbors” back in 2018 when they built their inaugural project on donated space in front of the Common Man Inn in Plymouth. Their second project is located in Warren, NH on donated roof space at the Appleknockers General Store.

“We are delighted to partner with LRCT to build our third project,” said Caryn Shield the NH Solar Shares Program Coordinator. “This project will produce enough solar to benefit 12 families (that rotate every two years) from the towns of Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Holderness or Sandwich.” In order to participate, families or individuals need an electricity account with the NH Electric Cooperative and be interested in learning about solar energy and home energy savings. Funds to build the arrays are raised through in-kind services, sponsorships, grants and charitable donations. NH Electric Cooperative is an on-going partner with NH Solar Shares.

“We are excited to partner with Solar Shares to bring more clean energy on to the grid that will benefit local families. And we are fully behind the project goal to design an environmentally-friendly solar field with minimal impact during the construction phase where the habitat is improved with pollinator plants and low blueberry bushes,” said LRCT President Don Berry.

“NH Solar Shares volunteers are teaming up with volunteers from LRCT, the Center Harbor Energy Committee and Conservation Commission and New England Commercial Solar Services to develop a model project that integrates solar energy into the landscape that compliments the land use needs for this particular location.” Said Sandra Jones, PAREI Director. “If this project sounds of interest to anyone in the community, I hope they’ll get in touch with us.”

If you are interested in volunteering on the project’s committee, applying to become a participant or would like to make a donation to fund the NH Solar Shares – Center Harbor solar array, please visit nhsolarshares.org, email volunteer@plymouthenergy.org or call the PAREI office at 603-536-5030. NH Solar Shares is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative a 501C-3 not for profit membership organization.