Unitil’s newly built 4.9-megawatt solar array in Kingston has been named NH Energy Week’s “Project of the Year” – an award that was earned as the company prepares to mark the completion of one of the largest solar arrays in New Hampshire and the first to be owned and operated by a regulated distribution utility in the state.
The 11,232-panel solar array received the Energy Champion Award during a ceremony held recently at UNH Manchester that recognized the contributions of leaders and organizations dedicated to promoting New Hampshire’s energy goals.
The Energy Champion Awards are given annually as part of NH Energy Week, which features events focused on key energy issues with an opportunity for discussion among energy professionals, policymakers, advocates, and others.
In addition to the company’s solar array recognition, Unitil Sustainability Project Manager George Anderson received the “Young Professional” Energy Champion Award, which is presented to an individual 40 and under who has made “exceptional accomplishments” in the energy industry.
“These awards highlight Unitil’s commitment to sustainability as we continue working to build a clean energy future,” Unitil Director of External Affairs Alec O’Meara said. “We’re pleased that the Kingston solar array has been recognized as a significant utility-scale renewable energy project, which we believe will bring affordable energy to our customers while enhancing supply diversity and system reliability.”
To be eligible for the “Project of the Year” title, the Energy Champion Award requires that projects “showcase their capability to successfully execute infrastructure projects across various sectors within the energy domain.”
Unitil, a Hampton, N.H.-based electric and natural gas provider in New England, officially broke ground on the Kingston project last spring. With the work completed, the company plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 18 to formally commission the solar array, which is estimated to generate approximately 9.7 million kilowatt hours of energy in its first year of service and average 8.6 million kilowatt hours annually over its projected 40-year lifespan. The array will generate enough electricity to power over 1,200 homes.
Ensuring cost benefits to customers was a crucial aspect of the project. The solar array is forecasted to save Unitil customers approximately $2 million over its lifetime of operation.
The array was built off Towle Road on 36 acres of land in the area of an electrical substation. A fenced area encompassing the solar panels, inverters, transformers and other electrical equipment covers approximately 27 acres. It will produce electricity that will be delivered directly into Unitil’s electric distribution system, reducing the amount of energy it receives from the transmission system.
ReVision Energy of Brentwood, N.H. has served as engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the project.
Meanwhile, Anderson said he was honored to receive the “Young Professional” Energy Champion Award. He joined Unitil nearly two years ago and serves on the Young Professionals in Energy steering committee, which is an initiative of Clean Energy NH that brings together New Hampshire’s rising leaders from within the energy industry. The group’s mission is to foster the state’s next generation of energy professionals.
“This recognition wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of my colleagues and the opportunity to contribute to some truly innovative projects. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to stay engaged in the Granite State’s dynamic energy ecosystem,” Anderson said.
Photo Captions:
- Teaser Image: Unitil's newly built solar array in Kingston, NH.
- Top Image: NHEnergy Week awards for "2025 Young Professional Energy Champion" won by George Anderson and "2025 Project of the Year" won by Unitil's Kingston Solar Array.
- In-text Image: Unitil Sustainability Project Manager George Anderson, left, earned the “2025 Young Professional Energy Champion" Award while Unitil Director of Electric Engineering Jacob Dusling, right, holds an award that the company received for its Kingston solar array, which was named "Project of the Year" during NHEnergy Week.
