Powered by the Sun and Sheep: The Plymouth Solar Shares Array is Expanding
Clean energy is growing in our region again! If you have ever driven past Frosty Scoops in Plymouth and looked up at the hillside, you have seen the NH Solar Shares array. By the end of this year, that very hillside will provide direct relief on utility bills to five more local families thanks to an exciting new solar expansion project.
The Power Behind the Project
This expansion is backed by a $40,563 grant from the New Hampshire Department of Energy, which the NH Governor and Executive Council officially approved on June 17th.
PAREI is leading the project in close partnership with the NH Electric Co-op and the Common Man. This state grant specifically targets community solar photovoltaic (PV) projects that provide direct benefits to low- and moderate-income (LMI) residential electric customers.
By building this new array, we are amplifying the reach of NH Solar Shares—a program that installs and operates community solar to share clean energy with low-income families while injecting more renewable power directly into our local grid.
Growing the Numbers
What the expansion looks like in technical terms:
- An 8.9kWDC array will be constructed to the left of the three existing arrays.
- The site currently produces 30,237kWH annually.
- The new addition will augment this existing production, generating more grid energy and supplementing energy payments for Plymouth area families who receive fuel or electrical assistance through Tri-County CAP.
Natural Vegetation Management
This project has been a visionary goal of PAREI, requiring three years of planning and site preparation. To prepare the hillside naturally, we tried something completely new for the Plymouth area.
We partnered with Three Creeks Farm to bring 16 sheep to the site to clear out vegetation and invasive plants. The solar grazing partnership proved to be a win-win for everyone involved. In fact, it was such a success that PAREI is now offering this sheep grazing service to other local landowners seeking natural vegetation management.
The grazing days also doubled as a community-building event. PAREI members and NH Solar Shares participants volunteered their time, met the sheep, and learned firsthand about the upcoming solar expansion.
A History of Community Solar
PAREI has been dedicated to helping low-income families benefit from the cost savings and environmental advantages of solar energy for years. This upcoming 2026 Plymouth expansion is just the latest milestone in a timeline of regional impact:
- 2018: First NH Solar Shares array in Plymouth
- 2019: Expansion into Warren
- 2024: Expansion into Center Harbor
- 2026: New Plymouth expansion array
How You Can Get Involved
To bring this expansion fully online, PAREI needs to raise an additional $10,000. If you want to help build a more sustainable community, you can support the effort today.
- Donate Online: Visit https://plymouthenergy.org/donate/
- Donate by Phone: Call our Executive Director, Denise Hutchins, at (603) 536-5030 ext. 6.
Looking for Participants: Apply Today!
By the time the new solar array goes online, we will need five more participants to sign up for the program. There is absolutely no cost to participate.
If you or your family receives fuel or electrical assistance through Tri-County CAP and you want to receive solar bill credits through NH Solar Shares, you can apply now:
- Online: Download an application at plymouthenergy.org/nh-solar-shares.
- In Person: Stop by the PAREI office at 300 Main St., Plymouth, NH (located at the corner of Route 3 and Fairgrounds Road).