The Hudson Board of Selectmen have scheduled two public hearings in January to consider implementing a $20,000 cap on the assessed value exemption for solar energy systems.
The proposed modification to the existing solar tax exemption has generated significant public interest, with residents advocating for a balanced approach that protects homeowners while addressing concerns about large corporate installations.
The upcoming hearings are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan 13, and Tuesday, Jan. 27, beginning at 7 p.m.
Both meetings will take place in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room at Town Hall, located at 12 School Street, Hudson, New Hampshire. The public is invited to attend and provide comment on the potential ordinance change, which falls under the provisions of RSA 72:61 and RSA 72:62.
Leading up to the Public Hearing, public sentiment seems to favors a compromise, according to the comments made by residents during a public input session at the Nov. 25, 2025, Board of Selectmen meeting.
Several residents, many of whom installed solar arrays based on the original 100% tax exemption, urged the board not to eliminate the exemption entirely.
Homeowners highlighted that the exemption was a crucial financial factor in their decision to invest in solar energy, helping to offset high electricity rates and installation costs.
“Would we have made the investment had we thought the exemption was unlikely to happen? Maybe, maybe not. It’s hard to say now,” said resident Craig Putnam during the November meeting. “But it certainly would have made it less likely that we would proceed with the project.”
Putnam added, “I think it’s likely that many of those residential property owners might not have proceeded with investing in a solar installation knowing their property taxes would go up. So, our suggestion to the BOS is as follows. If you feel the town must move away from the 100% exemption, then thread the needle by capping the exemption amount at a value that will cover the typical residential array.”
Residents broadly supported the idea of “threading the needle” with a cap value high enough to cover a typical residential system, but low enough that major corporations would not heavily benefit. Speakers argued that homeowners take on the upfront costs and risks of installation, and in return benefit the entire town by reducing the load on the power grid.
Resident Becky Odierna said, “I invested in 2017. I have still not seen complete returns on my investment yet. I invested under the security of knowing that this was put in place in 2015 and that we would be exempted from taxes. I don’t feel that middle class homeowners should be penalized for trying to make their homes more energy efficient. I think it benefits the entire town when homeowners do that.”
Doug McKenzie said, “Frankly, it was a financial decision for us. The electric rates in New
Hampshire are some of the highest in the country, and they’re going up rapidly. So, for us, it was a hedge against potential energy cost increases. And when looking at the numbers, knowing that there was an exemption in place was a huge factor in that decision. What’s the solution there, whether or not we keep the exemption in place or put a cap there, I really don’t know, but I’m obviously strongly in favor of not reversing that decision.”
He added, “I just think that it’s not right, knowing that a lot of people made decisions based on that. And again, that would certainly change the economics of how that investment pays off for itself.”
Resident Joan Zinkawich added Good evening. “I’ve had a small solar array for about the last 10- to 12-years, and it’s given me a really good return. Plus, I get what the electric company doesn’t need, they sell it back to me and give me a check three of four times a year. It’s not a big check, but it’s something to get back. I just want to say I agree with what all my neighbors have been saying.”
The upcoming meetings represent the two opportunities for the public to formally comment on the specific $20,000 cap proposal.