Planning Board approves 5-megawatt White Oaks Road community solar project

The Laconia Planning Board on Feb. 4 voted to approve application PB2025‑014 for a 5-megawatt alternating‑current (AC) photovoltaic community solar energy system on White Oaks Road after discussing site layout, clearing, access and utility interconnection.

The project will develop roughly 21 acres of a larger roughly 111‑acre parcel and place two separate arrays in upland areas divided by wetlands and a transmission right‑of‑way. Kevin Corbett, representing the applicant, described the system as a “fixed tilt system” and said the design includes an access drive off White Oaks Road, equipment pads and a 7‑foot security fence around each array. Corbett said the project team has held preliminary meetings with the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services wetlands staff and the Department of Transportation and had met with the city’s Technical Review Committee and Conservation Commission.

Board members pressed for details on lighting, fence type, clearing amounts and the point of utility interconnection. Corbett said there will…