This article was initially published by Canary Media and is republished here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
In a notable shift for the energy landscape, New England’s final coal power plant has shut down operations three years earlier than anticipated, despite efforts from the federal government to revitalize the struggling coal industry. This closure, which took place in New Hampshire, allows the plant’s owner to move forward with plans to convert the site into a clean energy hub, incorporating solar power and battery storage systems.
“The shift away from coal is undeniable and has arrived,” expressed Catherine Corkery, director of Sierra Club New Hampshire. “We are truly enthusiastic about embarking on this new journey.”
The announcement of the plant’s closure coincided with the Trump administration’s strategies to bolster the coal industry, which included opening vast federal lands to mining and investing $625 million to modernize existing coal facilities. Additionally, the administration had already introduced a plan to roll back environmental regulations linked to coal.
This announcement marks yet another attempt by the administration to promote coal. Officials have twice delayed the closure of the J.H. Campbell coal plant in Michigan, with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasizing their commitment to maintain coal operations, asserting that such plants play a crucial role in ensuring grid reliability and keeping energy costs down.
Nevertheless, the shutdown in New Hampshire, which remains unchallenged by the federal government, highlights that keeping some facilities operational is not economically viable for their owners.
“The coal sector has faced tremendous challenges in New England for over a decade,” noted Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association.
Merrimack Station, with a capacity of 438 megawatts, became operational in the 1960s, serving as a principal power source for New England for many years. Yet, as time passed, cheaper and more efficient natural gas gradually captured significant market share. In 2000, gas-powered plants accounted for less than 15 percent of the region’s electricity generation; by last year, that figure had surged to over 50 percent.
Moreover, solar energy production has surged since 2010, reducing grid demand during the day and shifting peaks toward evenings. Coal plants, which take longer to ramp up operations, are less economical for short-term demand spikes, according to Dolan.
In recent times, Merrimack operated only a handful of weeks each year. For 2024, its output comprised a mere 0.22 percent of the region’s electricity supply, rendering continued operations financially unfeasible.
The closure “highlights a significant transition in New England’s energy generation landscape that has been underway for years,” noted Dolan. “A confluence of factors has rendered coal facilities economically nonviable in this market.”
Granite Shore Power, the facility’s owner, initially announced the intention to close Merrimack in March 2024, following years of protests from environmentalists. As part of a legal settlement concerning alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act, the company agreed to end coal-fired operations by 2028. This agreement also includes a pledge to shut down the Schiller plant in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, by the end of 2025; while it can burn coal, it has not done so since 2020.
The company previously outlined plans to transform the 400-acre Merrimack property, located just outside Concord, into a site for clean energy initiatives, utilizing existing electric infrastructure to link a 120-megawatt solar and battery storage system to the grid.
It remains uncertain if changes in federal renewable energy policies will impact these aspirations. In a statement regarding the Merrimack closure, Granite Shore Power was less forthcoming about future plans, stating, “We are exploring all redevelopment opportunities” for the site, but declined to offer further specifics.
Despite these uncertainties, advocates remain positive about the future.
“This is a step forward — the numbers support it,” Corkery remarked. “While it’s not over until it’s over, I am filled with hope for what lies ahead.”
