SolSmart Designees
Milton
New Hampshire
Milton, 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. Milton installed solar PV on government-owned facilities; trained permitting, inspection, and planning staff in solar PV best practices; standardized solar permitting processes, and more!
- 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. (Required for Platinum)
- 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.
- Posted an online checklist detailing the required permit(s), submittals, and steps of the community’s permitting process for residential rooftop solar PV.
- Demonstrated that residential permit fees for solar PV are $500 or less.
- Trained permitting staff on best practices for permitting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
- Trained inspection staff on best practices for inspecting solar PV and/or solar and storage systems.
- Provided an online process for solar PV permit submission and approval.
- 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)).
- Adopted a standard solar PV permit application form aligned with best practices.
- Distinguished between solar PV systems qualifying for streamlined and standard permit 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).
- Ensured the zoning ordinance includes a native perennial vegetation and/or habitat-friendly ground cover requirement or standard for large-scale solar PV.
- Ensured the zoning ordinance enables co-location of solar PV with an agricultural use such as grazing, apiaries, or crops (agrivoltaics).
- Provided clear guidance for the installation of solar PV in areas such as historic properties, flood zones or special overlay districts.
- Reviewed zoning requirements and identify restrictions that intentionally or unintentionally prohibit solar PV development. Compile findings in a memo
- Ensured the zoning ordinance language does not include intentional or unintentional barriers to accessory use rooftop solar PV
- Ensured the zoning ordinance requires a decommissioning plan that outlines the terms and conditions for a large-scale solar PV system’s proper removal at the end of its useful life cycle or in the event of cessation of operation.
- Trained planning and zoning staff on best practices in planning and zoning for solar PV.
