Hopkinton, NH

Hopkinton, New Hampshire was part of a 2025 Granite State SolSmart cohort, working with Clean Energy New Hampshire and other local governments across the state to remove barriers to solar energy, streamline processes, and cut red tape. Hopkinton earned SolSmart Bronze by clarifying solar installation processes, installing solar PV on government-owned facilities, training municipal staff, and more!

• Discussed solar PV goals and/or strategies for increasing solar PV development, including large-scale solar plans, solar access, and/or solar adoption in disadvantaged communities
• Conducted feasibility analysis for solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land.
• Installed solar PV on local government facilities and/or local government-controlled land.
• Took an innovative action to make going solar easier and more affordable for residents and/or businesses that was not captured in any of the criteria already in the program.
• Provided residents with Community Choice Aggregation/Energy that includes solar PV as a power generation source.
• Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of the community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV.
• Distinguished between solar PV systems qualifying for streamlined and standard permit review.
• Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less.
• Demonstrated that current model code (IRC, IBC, and NEC ) cycle is implemented in the community for solar and solar plus storage (codes must be the most recent editions (or penultimate edition)).
• Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval.
• Posted an online statement confirming a three-business day turnaround time for residential rooftop solar PV.
• Posted solar PV inspection requirements online, including the inspection process and what details inspectors will review.
• Codified in the zoning ordinance that accessory use rooftop solar PV is explicitly allowed by-right in all major zones.
• Ensured the zoning ordinance permits small ground-mounted solar PV as an accessory use in at least one zoning district.
• Ensured the zoning ordinance exempts small ground-mounted solar PV from certain restrictions on accessory uses (e.g. setbacks, coverage or impervious surface calculations, or other restrictions).
• Ensured the zoning ordinance establishes a clear regulatory pathway for large-scale solar PV (e.g. through a special use permit or through inclusion among allowed conditional uses).
• Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development.
• Trained planning and zoning staff on best practices in planning and zoning for solar PV.