In a historic move aimed at supporting renewable energy projects in New England, Unitil Corporation officially broke ground Tuesday on a new 4.9-megawatt solar array in Kingston, N.H., that will be among the largest in New Hampshire once completed and the first to be owned and operated by a regulated distribution utility company in the state.
State and local officials joined representatives from Unitil and ReVision Energy for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site where the 11,232-panel solar array will be built on vacant land off Towle Road.
Unitil, a Hampton, N.H.-based electric and natural gas provider in New England, has hired ReVision Energy of Brentwood, N.H. to serve as the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the project, which will generate enough electricity to power over 1,200 homes.
Thomas P. Meissner, Jr., Unitil''s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said Unitil is proud to be moving forward with a project that will be the first of its kind in New Hampshire as it will be the first utility-scale solar array developed by a public utility in New Hampshire.
Jared S. Chicoine, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Energy, described the Kingston solar array as an innovative project with an expected economic value that will exceed the costs and benefit ratepayers.
ReVision Energy Chief Operating Officer James Hasselbeck, a Kingston resident and Unitil customer, said the company with 20 years of experience in the industry was honored to be chosen as the solar installation partner and looks forward to bringing the financial and environmental benefits of large-scale solar projects to the state of New Hampshire and to Unitil.
"It''s really incredible to see the town of Kingston host a project of this importance and of this scale in the state of New Hampshire," Hasselbeck said. "This is a far cry from the first solar project I installed in New Hampshire back in 2006, which was roughly 1.2 kilowatts. That''s equivalent to two of the 11,000-plus panels that we''ll be installing here. Things have come a long way."
The array is being constructed on a 36-acre parcel of land in the area of an electrical substation. A fenced area encompassing the solar panels, inverters, transformers, and other electrical equipment will cover approximately 27 acres. It will produce electricity that will be delivered directly into Unitil''s electric distribution system, reducing the amount of energy it receives from the transmission system.
The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission approved the project in 2023. Under New Hampshire law, utilities can invest in renewable generation of up to 6 percent of their total distribution peak load, which provides Unitil the opportunity to develop as much as 18 megawatts of renewable generation.
While this will be Unitil''s first solar array in New Hampshire, it''s not a first for the company. The utility''s first array was built in 2017 in Fitchburg, Mass., and features a 1.3-megawatt facility known as "Solarway," which has more than 3,700 solar panels.
Unitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering electricity and natural gas in New England. We are committed to the communities we serve and to developing people, business practices, and technologies that lead to the delivery of dependable, more efficient energy. Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Together, Unitil''s operating utilities serve approximately 108,500 electric customers and 88,400 natural gas customers.
As part of its commitment to supporting renewable energy projects in New England, Unitil Corporation has begun site work on a 4.9-megawatt solar energy project in Kingston, N.H., that will be the largest of its kind operating in New Hampshire.
The 11,232-panel solar project will be built on 36 acres of vacant land located off Towle Road and will be the first array owned and operated by a regulated distribution utility company in New Hampshire. Unitil has selected ReVision Energy based in Brentwood, N.H., as its engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the solar array.
The Kingston project was approved by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission in May 2023 and has since received all required local, state and federal permits to clear the way for work to begin. Under New Hampshire law, utilities can invest in renewable generation of up to 6% of their total distribution peak load, which provides Unitil the opportunity to develop as much as 18 megawatts of renewable generation.
"With this array, Unitil will provide substantial savings for ratepayers, generate employment opportunities within the community, and significantly curb carbon emissions," said Dan Weeks, Vice President of Business Development at ReVision Energy. "As their solar installation partner, we are honored to support them in their charge by powering a more sustainable and resilient future through the transformative technology of solar energy."
Plans for the solar energy project in Kingston follow Unitil''s first solar array built in 2017 in Fitchburg, Mass. The 1.3-megawatt facility, known as "Solarway," involved the installation of more than 3,700 solar panels on the site of 115 Sawyer Passway.
About Solar energy policy kingston
As the photovoltaic (PV) industry continues to evolve, advancements in Solar energy policy kingston have become critical to optimizing the utilization of renewable energy sources. From innovative battery technologies to intelligent energy management systems, these solutions are transforming the way we store and distribute solar-generated electricity.
When you're looking for the latest and most efficient Solar energy policy kingston for your PV project, our website offers a comprehensive selection of cutting-edge products designed to meet your specific requirements. Whether you're a renewable energy developer, utility company, or commercial enterprise looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we have the solutions to help you harness the full potential of solar energy.
By interacting with our online customer service, you'll gain a deep understanding of the various Solar energy policy kingston featured in our extensive catalog, such as high-efficiency storage batteries and intelligent energy management systems, and how they work together to provide a stable and reliable power supply for your PV projects.
Related Contents
