New England’s Coal-Fired Power Plants to Transform into Renewable Energy Parks
In a groundbreaking move towards a cleaner energy future, Granite Shore Power, the parent company of Merrimack Station in Bow and Schiller Station in Portsmouth, announced the permanent closure of New England’s last coal-fired power plants. The voluntary shutdown of Merrimack Station, which has been in operation since the 1960s, will take place by 2028 as part of an agreement reached with environmental groups and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Similarly, Schiller Station, which has been operating since the 1950s, will be closed by 2025.
However, this closure is not the end for these power plants. Both sites will be repurposed and transformed into “renewable energy parks” as part of the region’s efforts to transition towards clean energy. Schiller Station, situated on the seacoast, will host a battery energy storage system that will store and distribute energy during peak demand periods. This is especially crucial as it will support reliability, particularly when wind power from offshore sources such as Martha’s Vineyard and the Gulf of Maine is being generated.
The repurposing plan also includes Merrimack Station hosting around 100 megawatts of solar power, further solidifying its transition into a clean energy facility. This move not only contributes to the region’s renewable energy goals but also paves the way for exciting new economic growth.
The closures of these coal-fired power plants come after Granite Shore Power faced lawsuits from environmental groups, including Sierra Club and The Conservation Law Foundation. These groups argued that the power plants were harming the local ecosystem and violating an EPA permit from 2016 that restricted their discharge of heated water into a stretch of the Merrimack River. However, in December, Judge Joseph LaPlante ruled in favor of the power plants, stating that the burden of proof falls upon the environmental groups. The ruling is currently being appealed, but the voluntary agreement with the EPA stands.
The announcement of the closures and the subsequent repurposing plans have been met with enthusiasm from environmental groups. The Conservation Law Foundation sees it as a “victory for health, clean air and water, and the climate.” Tom Irwin, the foundation’s vice president, believes that this marks the end of coal in New Hampshire and the New England region as a whole. He calls for further efforts to phase out other polluting fuels like oil and gas, emphasizing the need to build a future where 100% of energy comes from clean sources.
The Sierra Club also celebrates this milestone as a “historic victory,” highlighting that particulate matter at Merrimack Station exceeded EPA limits by 70% in February 2023. Ben Jealous, the executive director of Sierra Club, expresses his pride in seeing New Hampshire and New England take a leading role in the clean energy transition. With these closures, New Hampshire will become the 16th coal-free state in the nation.
The closure of New England’s last coal-fired power plants represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy landscape. It not only reduces air and water pollution but also sets an example for other regions to follow. As the world continues to battle climate change, initiatives like this provide hope for a future powered by clean energy sources.
