Town officials celebrated the opening of the largest municipal solar array in the state on May 30, four years after the project was approved by voters.
Exeter Select Board members, state Sen. Debra Altschiller, D-Stratham, and representatives of New Hampshire’s U.S. senators and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas gathered at Exeter’s landfill on Cross Road where the panels were installed. Select Board Chair Niko Papakonstantis cut a red ribbon with a large pair of scissors to commemorate the opening of the 1.77-megawatt solar array.
Rows of panels have been constructed on top of the capped landfill, a total of 3,000 panels collecting energy. Town Manager Russ Dean said the solar array will save the town approximately $250,000 a year and cover all of the town’s energy bills.
“It’s going to crank out a lot of energy,” Dean said.
Solar array project brings energy savings to Exeter The project cost $5.2 million, of which taxpayers funded $3.6 million approved at the 2021 Town Meeting, according to the town’s website. The project’s financing plan includes annual revenues and renewable energy credits to offset the amount of debt service.
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