The Squam Lakes Association (SLA) in Holderness, NH will be covering most of the south-facing roof of their headquarters building with a 33kW solar PV system. The solar energy produced on site will provide 100% of the annual electricity used in the offices, workshop, gift shop and meeting rooms.

“We have been looking at doing this for a long time and have been inspired by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust’s project”, said EB James Executive Director at SLA, “and we are thrilled that we can now expand our conservation footprint by generating our own clean electricity.  We really want to model using clean energy as essential to the continued health of Squam Lake, its watershed, and our environment.  Solar energy is free to collect, abundant and is the cleanest and most deployable source of energy available today.”

The beauty of the orientation and location of the SLA headquarters is that the south-facing roof faces Route 3 and therefore has high-visibility allowing SLA to show all passers-by that this is a solar-powered campus.  “While the solar modules will still be visible, the black modules will be aesthetically pleasing as they will be installed on SLA’s new black metal roof” says Brett Durham, SLA Director of Operations.

Ted Vansant of New England Commercial Solar Services (NECSS) and Sandra Jones of the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI), both Holderness residents, have combined their solar expertise to help the SLA find grant and state solar rebate funding, design the system to meet the needs of SLA and ultimately procure the equipment and install the system.

 “Our mission here at PAREI is to help our community reduce energy use and produce renewable energy one building at a time”, said Sandra Jones, PAREI Director and Co-Founder. “Assisting SLA with powering their buildings with solar energy helps both of our organizations fulfill our missions. We really hope SLA and PAREI’s members will come out and support this project.”

“We are thankful to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for providing us with a challenge grant for the solar installation”, says Pam Smith, SLA Director of Development, “and we look forward to working with our supporters and the community to meet the fundraising match.”

NECSS Background Information
NECSS is a New Hampshire company providing low-cost solar construction and financing services to commercial, municipal, non-profit and educational clients throughout New England. Ted believes that every solar panel that is installed helps address climate change through lower emissions and by educating others about the benefits of solar energy.

PAREI Background Information
The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) was formed by a group of area residents concerned about the overuse of fossil fuels, the troubling fact that oil is a finite resource and the negative impact this energy use has on the environment. PAREI’s mission is to encourage energy conservation, energy efficiency practices and promote the use of renewable energy in buildings in the Plymouth region through education, community outreach, partnerships, volunteerism and providing access to resources, grants, incentives and professional services.
 
The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative offers community based activities, educational programs and professional services all designed to help homeowners and non-profit organizations reduce or produce energy.  Their services include Complimentary Energy Consultation for Members, Solar Site Visits, Community Solar Energy Raisers, Membership Energy Exchange Gatherings, NHSaves Button UP Home Energy Saving Workshops, Energy Audits, Professional Solar PV Grid Tied Installations and Solar Water Heating Repairs. PAREI founded and now serves as the Fiscal Agent for the Local Foods Plymouth Program - an outdoor and on-line Local Foods Marketplace helping the community save energy through local food sourcing.  PAREI recently launched a new program called NH Solar Shares – providing an opportunity for low income families to access the environmental and economic benefits of solar PV.
 
To become a member visit the membership page at www.plymouthenergy.org and print off a membership form or call the office at 603-536-5030. Or feel free to stop by the office located at 79 Highland Street in Plymouth, NH. It is open by appointment or by chance. To learn more about PAREI’s activities like their Facebook page www.facedbook.com/PlymouthEnergyInitiative . To learn more about Local Foods Plymouth visit www.localfoodsplymouth.org. To learn more about NH Solar Shares visit www.nhsolarshares.org
 
To learn how to support the SLA solar project, please contact the SLA office at info@squamlakes.org or call (603) 968-7336.