Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative

What Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative does

Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) is a community-based nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered at 300 Main Street in Plymouth, New Hampshire, serving Central New Hampshire. Its mission is to expand access to renewable energy, strengthen local food systems, and empower neighbors through education and events. The organization runs a portfolio of programs including residential and commercial solar PV installation services, the NH Solar Shares community solar program for low-income households, energy audits and efficiency upgrades, the year-round Local Foods Plymouth marketplace connecting small farmers and producers with local buyers, an agrivoltaic Solar Grazing initiative with Three Creeks Farm, a Heat Pump Water Heating Tank Program, technical assistance, and a Healthy Living Program.

PAREI's core technology is grid-tied solar PV, deployed through residential and commercial installations and through community solar arrays shared by low-income subscribers. Notable technical features include the Solar Grazing agrivoltaic practice (using sheep to maintain vegetation under solar panels, in partnership with Three Creeks Farm) and behind-the-meter solar optimization intended to reduce reliance on net metering. The Local Foods Plymouth marketplace operates as a year-round e-commerce storefront via localfoodsplymouth.org, processing transactions through Stripe and buyer communications via MailChimp.

PAREI's business model blends nonprofit revenue streams: recurring membership fees and donations, professional services fees from solar installations and energy audits, hardware sales (heat pump water heating tanks), and marketplace transaction fees from Local Foods Plymouth. The organization operates a community-led go-to-market motion — direct community outreach, workshops (e.g., NHSaves Button Up Workshop), events (PAREI Picnic, Music in the Mountains, Walk & Talk Tours), a volunteer program, and a membership/giving program. Standard SaaS tooling (Constant Contact, MailChimp, Google Analytics, Stripe) supports operations. The organization holds no patents, has no institutional investors, and operates as a member-supported 501(c)(3)-style entity under Federal Tax ID 20-0789969, with 11-50 employees and an Executive Director (Denise Hutchins) and Board President-Elect (MaryAnn McGarry) leading governance.

Name

Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative

Legal name

Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative

Website

https://plymouthenergy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) is a Central New Hampshire nonprofit founded in 2004 that delivers community solar installations, energy efficiency services, the Local Foods Plymouth marketplace, and renewable energy access programs for low-income households.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Renewable Energy Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Electric Services (4911), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Solar Development & Subscription Management (EUAMAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)

Keywords

• Community solar programs
• Residential solar installation
• Energy efficiency services
• Local food marketplace
• Renewable energy nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership & Donations: Community support through membership fees and donations from individuals who believe in the organization's mission of building a resilient region through clean energy, local food systems, and community education.
2. Solar Installation Services: Technical assistance and installation services for solar PV systems, energy efficiency upgrades, system check-ups, and repairs for residential and commercial customers.
3. Local Foods Plymouth Marketplace: Community-supported marketplace sales connecting local farmers and producers with local buyers, operating year-round.
4. Heat Pump Water Heating Tank Program: Program providing and installing heat pump water heating tanks to improve energy efficiency in homes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) delivers renewable energy and energy efficiency services to Central New Hampshire communities, including residential and commercial solar PV installations, system check-ups and repairs, energy audits, and the NH Solar Shares community solar program serving low-income households. The organization also operates Local Foods Plymouth, a year-round community-supported marketplace connecting small farmers and producers with local buyers, and runs complementary programs such as solar grazing agrivoltaics, heat pump water heating tank installations, technical assistance, and a healthy living education initiative.

Product overview

Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) offers a unified portfolio of renewable energy and local food programs focused on Central New Hampshire communities. The core offerings include Solar Services (PV installations, check-ups, and repairs), NH Solar Shares (community solar for low-income households), and Local Foods Plymouth (a community-supported marketplace). These are complemented by Energy Efficiency Services, the Heat Pump Water Heating Tank Program, Technical Assistance, the agrivoltaic Solar Grazing initiative, and the Healthy Living Program. Together, these programs aim to expand access to renewable energy, strengthen local food systems, empower neighbors through education, and innovate community solar solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NH Solar Shares: Community solar program that benefits low-income households
• Local Foods Plymouth

Products and services

• Solar Services Provides solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, expansions, system check-ups, and repairs for residential and commercial properties in Central New Hampshire communities. Services include new PV system design and installation, system expansions, performance check-ups, and repair work for existing arrays.
• NH Solar Shares Community solar program that provides low-income households in New Hampshire access to renewable energy and cost savings through shared community solar arrays, with over 5,000 households supported.
• Local Foods Plymouth A year-round community-supported online marketplace connecting small farmers and producers with local buyers to strengthen the regional food system in Central New Hampshire.
• Energy Efficiency Services Provides energy audits, the NHSaves Button Up Workshop, and efficiency upgrades to help families and businesses reduce energy costs and carbon emissions.
• Solar Grazing An agrivoltaic initiative using sheep (partnered with Three Creeks Farm) to graze and manage vegetation under solar arrays, combining renewable energy generation with sustainable land management and agriculture.
• Heat Pump Water Heating Tank Program Program providing and installing heat pump water heating tanks in homes to improve energy efficiency.
• Technical Assistance Provides technical expertise and support for residential and commercial renewable energy projects and energy efficiency improvements.
• Healthy Living Program Educational tools and initiatives that help families make homes healthier, covering dry, clean, contaminant-free, pest-free, safe, well-maintained, well-ventilated, energy efficient, thermally controlled, and electrified living environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5000+ low-income households supported through NH Solar Shares
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Three Creeks FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Three Creeks Farm for solar grazing agrivoltaic initiative. Lucie Brown from Three Creeks Farm partners with PAREI at the Plymouth Solar Shares site, using sheep to graze vegetation under solar panels as an innovative sustainable agriculture practice.
• New Hampshire Music FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Music in the Mountains event celebrating Local Foods Plymouth's 20th anniversary, featuring NHMF Brass Quintet performances.
• Oliverian Everlasting Burial GroundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMany PAREI members have been part of creating NH's first independent natural burial cemetery, working together on conservation of intrinsically valuable land.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC): Regional nonprofit implementing energy efficiency and clean energy programs across the Northeast. Operates similar energy efficiency, community solar, and low-income electrification programs in an adjacent geography.
• Solar United Neighbors: Nonprofit that organizes communities to go solar through group purchasing and education. Comparable community-led, mission-driven model focused on expanding rooftop and community solar access.
• GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit delivering community solar and solar workforce training for low-income households. Directly comparable mission to PAREI's NH Solar Shares program, operating at significantly greater multi-state scale.
• Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): Nonprofit coalition supporting state-level clean energy programs including community solar. Comparable mission of expanding clean energy access through community-focused initiatives across multiple states.
• Midwest Renewable Energy Association: Regional nonprofit advancing renewable energy through education, community programs, and workshops. Comparable grassroots education and community-event model to PAREI's NHSaves Button Up workshops and member programming.
• Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL): Rural-focused nonprofit providing solar access for low-income households. Comparable community-driven, equity-focused renewable energy model serving small/rural populations with limited commercial alternatives.
• Mass Energy Consumers Alliance: Massachusetts-based nonprofit advancing clean energy access and energy equity for low-income consumers, including community solar programs analogous to NH Solar Shares.

Broad incumbents

• ReVision Energy: Largest NH-based solar installer operating across northern New England. Directly competes with PAREI in residential and commercial solar installations, but structured as a B-corp for-profit at significantly greater scale.
• Vote Solar: National advocacy nonprofit advancing state-level solar and community solar policy. Operates at the policy/advocacy level rather than direct installation, but is a key stakeholder shaping the ecosystem PAREI operates in.

Others

• Cypress Creek Renewables: Large-scale community solar developer operating subscriber programs in multiple states. Provides a useful scale and economics benchmark for community solar, though not a mission-aligned peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PAREINH
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlymouthEnergyInitiative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plymouth-area-renewable-energy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative