Yankee solar plan revisited 

Yankee Publishing is once again expected to begin construction on its nearly 100-kilowatt solar array, after a few revisions to the plan. 

The Dublin-based company met with the Planning Board on Thursday to have minor revisions to their plan approved. With the project approved once more, Yankee Publishing President Jamie Trowbridge said Friday that construction on the $300,000 project should be completed by the summer’s end. 

“We are optimistic that we will be producing energy soon,” said Trowbridge. “We feel like we are in a good position to move forward.”

Yankee officials first approached the Planning Board in April last year, seeking approval for a 100-kilowatt system. After a number of meetings, the board unanimously approved the project’s site plan on Sept. 3. 

Since that approval, Yankee has had to change a few aspects of the plan. Chief among changes is a reduction in size: the new plan calls for a 93.5-kilowatt array instead of 100.

“I think we can still fulfill all of our energy needs,” said Trowbridge. “We have discussed a number of conservation efforts, which should also help.”

Other changes to the plan include having four rows of solar panels instead of three (in the same 6,800 square foot space) and using fewer inverters. Additionally, Eversource has required that Yankee install a pole near Monument Road for interconnection into the grid. 

Despite a number of changes for the project, Trowbridge says project costs should stay similar, at about $300,000. Yankee’s project is still approved for a $75,000 N.H. Public Utilities Commission grant to help offset project costs. 

“Every portion of the project is good to go,” said Trowbridge. “It’s definitely worth taking your time on a project like this. We want to make sure everything is done correctly.”

Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.