(Bow, NH) – Granite Shore Power (GSP) is teaming up with the New Hampshire State Police for the NH 2024 Toys for Tots Program. The NH Toys for Tots Campaign is supported by the New Hampshire State Police and is part of a larger national program operated by the US Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign. “The GSP team is dedicated to giving back to the community we serve. We are so proud to have supported the Toys for Tots program for the past five years, contributing more than $90,000 to this important organization,” said Jim Andrews, President of Granite Shore Power. “We understand how vital it is for us to play a leading role in helping those in need and we are grateful to have a team of employees who are willing to give back to ensure all children can experience the magic of the holiday season.” During the months of November and December, the New Hampshire State Police will be hosting several events around the state to collect new, unwrapped toys to distribute to children who are in need this holiday season. “We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Granite Shore Power to once again to collect donations for the Toys for Tots campaign,” added Michal Svetnek, Public Information Officer with the New Hampshire State Police. “The generosity of their staff is unmatched, and the amount of donations that are collected each year never ceases to amaze us. It’s truly heartwarming.”
Granite Shore Power CEO Jim Andrews (pictured far right) spoke alongside other executives in a panel discussion at the New England Energy Summit. From left to right: Cheryl LaFleur, moderator, ISO New England; Erin A. O’Dea, Great River Hydro; Jeff Delgado, Lotus Infrastructure Partners; Nate Hanson, LS Power; Jim Andrews, Granite Shore Power As part of the CEO Roundtable panel, Andrews highlighted the importance of energy reliability and affordability for New England. (Boston, MA) - Granite Shore Power CEO, Jim Andrews, was a featured speaker at the fifth annual New England Energy Summit, held on December 3, 2024. Andrews and other industry leaders were brought together as panelists on a “CEO Roundtable” to address emerging energy issues including grid reliability, preparing for extreme weather events, and investing in the evolving energy landscape. Their discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the energy sector, exploring how companies can navigate changing market conditions and integrate renewable resources while maintaining reliability. “As leaders in the energy sector, it is our responsibility to confront the challenges in our industry and take proactive steps to ensure people across New Hampshire have reliable, affordable, and sustainable access to energy,” said Jim Andrews, CEO of Granite Shore Power. “Granite Shore Power is investing in resilient infrastructure that will work in tandem with renewable resources in the future and help ensure seasonable reliability during times of peak demand.” In addition to Andrews, participants of the CEO Roundtable included: Nate Hanson, President, LS Power Erin A. O’Dea, President and CEO, Great River Hydro Jeff Delgado, Lotus Infrastructure Partners, Managing Director of Asset Management Cheryl LaFleur, moderator, Chair, ISO New England Andrews highlighted the connection between energy and economic growth in the region, sharing that a reliable and stable energy supply is essential to supporting sustained economic activity. Granite Shore Power is focused on bringing online new resources, including enhanced battery storage systems at Schiller Station that will charge at points of low energy demand throughout the day and discharge at afternoon and evening peaks. To ensure a strong business climate, companies need access to affordable, reliable energy that they can count on during the seasonal swings of the region. GSP’s planned storage projects will be essential dispatchable resources when intermittent resources become interrupted by weather dependency. These projects balance the need to keep energy accessible and affordable while contributing to a cleaner energy mix. Andrews also highlighted Granite Shore Power’s long-standing repowering plan, which includes the transformation of Schiller and Merrimack Stations into clean energy parks. Schiller and Merrimack are interconnected to the grid, which means they can be developed quicker than entirely new projects, enabling a faster transition to cleaner energy. “We have made considerable progress towards our renewable energy goals, but there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Andrews. “If New England is going to benefit from the energy transition and clean energy opportunities – not only decarbonization efforts but also economic growth – it will be critical that industry leaders work together and continue to engage in thoughtful dialogue.”
Originally Post by New Hampshire Business Review Jim Andrews, CEO, Granite Shore Power Q: Could you share your perspective on reliability in New England and what Granite Shore Power is doing to enhance it? A: As we approach another New England winter, Granite Shore Power (GSP) generating stations stand ready to provide ISO-New England with reliable electric generation to the families and businesses of New Hampshire when needed most. Recent retirements of power plants as well as announced retirements, including our own Schiller Station in Portsmouth and Merrimack Station in Bow, are being replaced with intermittent resources that represent less than half of the retiring resource capacity. A deficiency of dispatchable resources is resulting in a near-crisis for reliability at a critical time in New England. To that end, we recently announced the transformation and repowering of Schiller and Merrimack into clean energy parks, which will provide New Hampshire with energy storage that dispatches power when it is needed to lower peak demand day-in and day-out. Schiller and Merrimack are interconnected to the grid which means they can be developed more quickly. At every turn, we are planning for and considering the future, but we are committed to acting on what we can do today to ensure our current operations meet the energy needs of our communities. Q: What steps is your team taking today to make this transformation a reality? A: At GSP we are focused on bringing online new resources, specifically enhanced battery storage systems, which can deliver the power that we need right away–not ten years from now. Schiller’s battery energy storage system (BESS) will charge at points of low energy demand throughout the day and discharge at afternoon and evening peaks, balancing supply and demand in real time. Located on the Seacoast, the Jacona II at Schiller Station will be able to address immediate peaking needs and will also be available to provide storage for the wind power being built off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and in the Gulf of Maine. Q: Why is battery storage so critical to the reliability of businesses in New Hampshire? A: Battery storage is a proven technology that is already benefiting the region, and we know the impact will be even greater as it works in tandem with renewable resources in the future. We are not looking to be aspirational about what the “best” resource will be – but rather we are focused on providing immediate solutions to maintain reliability for electric generation. Q: How will enhanced energy reliability support New Hampshire’s economy? A: Economic growth has been strong in the Granite State - ranked the #1 state in the nation for economic opportunity by U.S. News & World Report. We want New Hampshire to continue to be a place where businesses can grow and prosper, and we believe GSP can support that upward trajectory. To ensure a strong business climate, companies need access to affordable, reliable energy that they can count on during the seasonal swings of our region. Our storage projects will be essential dispatchable resources when intermittent resources become interrupted by weather dependency. Reliable energy is about more than keeping the lights on and the heat running; it is about providing a stable foundation for economic activity. Electric reliability will be critical for attracting new businesses, as well as supporting existing businesses that wish to expand. We think New Hampshire is a great business environment–but if reliability is not there, businesses may be forced to look elsewhere to operate.
At Granite Shore Power (GSP), we’re proud to be home to a diverse and dedicated workforce, including many military veterans who bring invaluable experience, leadership, and resilience to our organization. In appreciation of these selfless individuals, GSP holds an annual tradition allowing our veteran employees to choose a charity they’re passionate about. Each Veteran’s Day, GSP donates to this organization, chosen by our veterans, to honor their service and to support causes that resonate deeply with those who have served our country. This year, our veteran community selected Hero Pups, a New Hampshire-based organization that provides specially trained support dogs to veterans and first responders facing service-related trauma. These dogs offer much more than companionship—they empower veterans with increased independence and a renewed sense of peace. Hero Pups’ mission aligns with GSP’s values of community, resilience, and support. Using 100 percent of donations to acquire, train, and place dogs, Hero Pups minimizes costs, reduces wait times, and ensures that every dollar raised reaches as many veterans and first responders as possible. “We chose to support Hero Pups because of their strong focus on veteran assistance, especially within New Hampshire,” said Robert Lussier, a US Navy Reserve veteran and a valued member of our team. “Recognizing the long and demanding process involved in pairing these trained dogs with veterans in need, we wanted to make a meaningful impact. This initiative was more than just a financial contribution—it was a collective effort. Together, our team, led by the veterans among us and supported by the broader community of employees, came together to actively support the cause. By uniting behind Hero Pups, we hope to play a part in helping veterans access the support they deserve.” For many veterans, the transition back to civilian life comes with unique challenges, including mental health struggles like PTSD. Hero Pups addresses this critical need by providing trained service dogs that can have a profoundly positive impact on veterans’ well-being. US Air Force veteran Stephen Simeone shared, “Hero Pups holds a special meaning for me as a veteran. I know firsthand the positive impact a service dog can have on veterans struggling with PTSD and other mental health challenges. Giving back to the community is incredibly important to me, and when GSP announced this initiative, I felt compelled to get involved. I have friends who would truly benefit from this opportunity. Through our efforts, we’re not only supporting veterans and first responders but actively contributing to something that makes a real difference.” By celebrating the contributions of our veterans and supporting the charities they care about, GSP aims to foster a workplace where everyone feels a sense of community and belonging. Our commitment to supporting veteran causes like Hero Pups allows us to extend the impact of GSP’s values beyond our walls and into the New Hampshire community. This Veteran’s Day, we are honored to support Hero Pups in their mission to serve those who have selflessly served our country.
Andrews featured as panelist in Business & Industry Association’s 2024 New Hampshire Energy Symposium (Concord, NH) – On November 7, 2024, Granite Shore Power CEO Jim Andrews participated in an expert panel at the Business & Industry Association’s 2024 New Hampshire Energy Symposium. In a panel conversation entitled, State of Energy in New Hampshire, Andrews offered insight into the future of the state’s energy grid, and how Granite Shore Power (“GSP”) is providing reliable energy generation to the families and businesses of New Hampshire. “New England’s energy sector is at a critical moment, as many power plants in the region have recently retired and our own Merrimack and Schiller Stations are transitioning to renewable energy parks. This winter, fewer energy sources will be available, which creates a serious risk for energy stability in the area.” Andrews said. “It is imperative that we combat this by expanding energy sources, which will lower energy costs and help to build a reliable, sustainable future for New Hampshire.” GSP is proactively addressing the need for reliability by investing in battery storage, which can deliver power needed right away–not ten years from now. Andrews outlined the company’s plans for Schiller Station, which includes the addition of a battery energy storage system (BESS). The system will charge at points of low energy demand throughout the day and discharge at afternoon and evening peaks, balancing supply and demand in real time. In tandem with renewable energy resources, the technology will meet increased energy needs and allow for continued economic growth in the Granite State. “Throughout the redevelopment of Merrimack and Schiller stations, it is critical that we have the sustained support of both lawmakers and the community,” added Andrews. “This collaboration is essential to ensure we can deliver reliable electricity to the families and businesses of New England.” In March of this year, GSP announced the voluntary closure of operations at Schiller Station and at Merrimack Station, New England’s last remaining coal-fired plant, facilitating the creation of first-of-their-kind “Renewable Energy Parks” in the state of New Hampshire. The transformation of these power plants into new, clean energy facilities marks the end of coal-fired generation in New England and facilitates exciting new economic growth at each location. GSP’s decision to set a firm closure date for coal-fired operations at both Merrimack and Schiller was part of the company’s long-standing repowering plan. The transformation of these power plants into new, clean energy facilities will mark the end of coal-fired generation in New England and facilitate exciting new economic growth at each location.
Andrews discussed offshore wind infrastructure at EBC 6th Annual New Hampshire Offshore Wind Conference (Concord, NH) - On October 16, 2024, Granite Shore Power CEO Jim Andrews participated in the Environmental Business Council of New England’s 6th Annual New Hampshire Offshore Wind Conference. Andrews’ presentation focused on the Granite State’s burgeoning offshore wind industry and the vital role that Granite Shore Power (“GSP”) will play in helping to make wind power a reality for New England. Specifically, Andrews talked about GSP's transformation of Schiller Station into a battery energy storage facility, which would provide storage for the wind power being built off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and in the Gulf of Maine. “The New Hampshire Seacoast is an area of high energy demand, and it’s well-positioned to take advantage of the potential sites for offshore wind,” said Andrews. “By repowering Schiller Station to a battery storage system, we will be able to provide reliable, carbon-neutral power to support the peak energy demands of New Hampshire residents every single day.” GSP’s Schiller Station will be repowered to a battery energy storage system (BESS) called Jacona II. BESS is an optimal dispatchable resource for supporting decarbonization efforts when located in proximity to the load demand they are servicing. The Schiller Station, located on the Seacoast in Portsmouth, provides an ideal opportunity to site a critically needed resource utilizing existing infrastructure to meet reliability needs sensibly. It is estimated that the coast of New Hampshire has enough offshore wind potential to supply 2,600 MW of clean energy to the region's power grid, enough to power the entire Granite State, according to Clean Energy NH. Offshore wind developments can provide significant investment in the state's economy and offer a suite of well-paying jobs across a suite of supporting industries. “This is a pivotal moment, as we embark on this journey to build a cleaner energy future. GSP has a unique opportunity to help address New England’s reliability challenges, by creating an energy storage surplus that dispatches power when and where it’s needed,” added Andrews. “This project will be a major step forward in the region’s transition to the next generation of energy resources.” Andrews noted the need for significant investment to make this transformation come to fruition. “The offshore wind sector requires significant coastal infrastructure for manufacturing, construction, marshaling, and operations and maintenance,” Andrews stated. “New Hampshire needs direct investments in these clean energy projects for the state to benefit from decarbonization efforts and the economic growth possibilities that come with them.” In March of this year, GSP announced the voluntary closure of operations at Schiller Station and at Merrimack Station, New England’s last remaining coal-fired plant, facilitating the creation of first-of-their-kind “Renewable Energy Parks” in the state of New Hampshire. The transformation of these power plants into new, clean energy facilities marks the end of coal-fired generation in New England and facilitates exciting new economic growth at each location. GSP’s decision to set a firm closure date for coal-fired operations at both Merrimack and Schiller was part of the company’s long-standing repowering plan. The transformation of these power plants into new, clean energy facilities will mark the end of coal-fired generation in New England and facilitate exciting new economic growth at each location. “Our transformed facilities will continue providing reliable electric generation to Granite Staters. This is a bold step forward and making good on our promise to transition our coal-fired plants to clean energy facilities, meeting the changing needs of the region,” concluded Andrews.
Andrews highlighted planned transition of coal-fired plant to renewable energy parks, which will continue to provide reliable electric generation to the Granite State (Concord, NH) - Granite Shore Power CEO, Jim Andrews, was a featured speaker at the 2024 New Hampshire Energy Summit, held on September 23, 2024. His presentation, Reliability in a Transforming Market, addressed the critical issue of reliability in balancing regional energy resources to an audience of energy sector stakeholders. “Granite Shore Power’s generating stations have been essential resources within ISO-New England ensuring reliable electricity to the families and businesses of New Hampshire on its hottest days and coldest nights,” said Andrews. “As we transition to new energy resources, we need a balanced mix of generation, which we believe our energy parks will be able to support in a cost-efficient manner.” Andrews highlighted the company’s role in enhancing energy stability through major redevelopment efforts at Schiller Station in Portsmouth, NH and Merrimack Station in Bow, NH. In March, Granite Shore Power voluntarily announced that Schiller Station would cease operations by 2025, and Merrimack Station would be retired by 2028, as part of an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As part of the redevelopment plan, Schiller Station is building a battery energy storage system, taking energy from the grid during low demand and putting it back on the grid during peak periods. Schiller and Merrimack Stations have been an important, yet limited, part of New Hampshire’s energy infrastructure for many years now. Merrimack Station will continue to be a vital resource when energy demands are at their highest while GSP redevelops the facility on its nearly 400 acres of land into a Clean Energy Park for generations to come. “After years of working toward the promises we made at inception, we are now there,” added Andrews. “It has taken significant effort to get to this point and more work must be done before these transformational projects begin construction, but we’re ready to solve a real reliability concern for the region. It will take the support of all stakeholders, including the business community, the advocacy community and our governmental partners, but we’re excited to take this important next step.
Originally Posted By E&E News By POLITICO (BOW, New Hampshire) — For Jim Andrews, an old photograph tells a cautionary tale. The black and white picture shows five electricity executives smiling and pointing at what they hoped would be a technological breakthrough: a mercury vapor turbine at a new coal plant on the New Hampshire seacoast. Mercury turbines, which used the toxic element to transfer heat rather than steam, never caught on. Only a few were built. Now, some 75 years after that photo was snapped, Andrews finds himself in a similar spot. The CEO of Granite Shore Power announced earlier this year that his company will soon close the last two coal plants in New England. In their place, the company plans to build two large battery storage facilities, a small solar farm and, if all goes well, a port that could eventually serve the offshore wind industry in the Gulf of Maine. Which brings Andrews back to the picture hanging on the wall outside his office. “They’re pointing like, ‘Isn’t this a great idea?’ and everybody’s so proud,” he said during an interview last week. “It sort of always gives me pause as I go into my office and make a major decision. Is it really going to be that good of a decision when folks 40 years from now look back on me?” Granite Shore Power CEO Jim Andrews poises by a picture of New England Public Service Co. executives celebrating the commissioning of a mercury vapor turbine at Schiller Station. “It sort of always gives me pause as I go into my office and make a major decision,” he said. | Benjamin Storrow/POLITICO’s E&E News In some senses, Granite Shore Power’s move away from coal is mostly symbolic. New England never was a particularly large coal market, even in the fuel’s heyday. Coal ceased to play a significant role in the region’s six-state power market with the retirement of a large Massachusetts coal plant in 2017. One of Granite Shore Power’s two coal facilities hasn’t run since 2020. The other typically logs fewer than 20 days in a year, switching on only during the hottest summer swelters or coldest winter periods when power demand in the region spikes. But the company’s moves point to one of the biggest questions facing the country as efforts to green the electrical system gather steam: how to keep the lights on when power demand surges. That role has traditionally been the domain of fossil fuels. It is a job frequently done by many of the dirtiest, least efficient power plants on the electrical grid. How to replace those facilities with cleaner alternatives is one of the bigger challenges of decarbonizing the electric sector. Few places capture the conundrum like New England. The region of nearly 15 million people has a unique challenge in that it has a gas-reliant power grid but limited pipeline capacity to serve it. That can be especially troublesome in the winter, when demand for gas rises and space on New England’s pipelines is limited. Traditionally, the region has been able to call on other power plants to help fill the void. Mystic Generating Station, a gas plant outside Boston and New England’s largest fossil fuel-fired facility, relied on imports of liquefied natural gas until it closed earlier this summer. Merrimack and Schiller stations, the two coal plants operated by Granite Shore Power in New Hampshire, supply a small amount of coal generation. New England could also count on oil-fired facilities like the one operated by ArcLight Capital Partners in Middletown, Connecticut. It was an effective, if dirty, way to keep the lights on. Now all four of those power plants are slated to retire by 2028, beginning with the already-shuttered Mystic. Altogether, New England stands to lose 3,000 megawatts over the next four years, or about a tenth of its generating capacity. There are few easy replacements. A transmission line capable of delivering 1,200 MW of hydropower from Canada has resumed construction after being blocked for almost two years by voters in Maine. Two offshore wind projects, which will add 1,500 MW of new capacity to the New England grid, are under construction after years of delays. But whether the region can quickly add more large-scale clean energy projects is an open question. “The challenge in New England is the retirements always happen on time and the new entry is almost always late,” said Dan Dolan, CEO of New England Power Generators Association, a trade group that represents power plant owners like Granite Shore Power. A coal pile at Merrimack Station outside Concord, New Hampshire. Merrimack is the last operating coal plant in New England. It is slated to close in 2028. | Benjamin Storrow/POLITICO’s E&E News New England is banking on offshore wind, in part because it’s easier to site large renewable energy projects at sea than on land. Offshore wind is also attractive to the region because the winds over the North Atlantic tend to blow hardest in winter, when power is needed the most. “I am a believer that offshore wind will play a meaningful role in the winter and will enhance the overall reliability of the system,” Dolan said, before cautioning, “It is not going to be perfect. There are going to be moments in time where other resources are needed and need to step up — infrequent periods every few years, with low temperatures and low winds and we will need to rely on other dispatchable resources.” ISO New England, the regional grid operator, shares the concern. Its grid modeling shows that there’s enough power to operate its grid reliably through 2032. But that finding comes with important caveats. It assumes 4,800 MW in offshore wind capacity will come online by 2032, a figure that could be difficult to reach after a series of wind developers were forced to cancel power contracts with New England states last year due to inflation. It also supposes the new transmission line with Canada will be completed. While that project is once again moving forward, it still faces a legal challenge from one of the region’s nuclear power plant operators. To make matters even more complicated: ISO New England is predicting a steady uptick in power demand due to electric vehicles and home heat pumps. The grid operator thinks demand will grow 17 percent over the next 10 years, reversing more than a decade of declining demand due to energy efficiency measures. It also projects that winter power demand will nearly match summer power demand by 2033 because of the growing popularity of heat pumps. That makes new clean energy resources more important, said Anne George, ISO New England’s chief communications officer. “If the supply growth and demand growth are out of whack then there is the potential for problems on the system,” she said. It is against that backdrop that Granite Shore Power announced its plans to replace its coal plants with cleaner facilities. Schiller Station sits on the Piscataqua River and once received shipments of coal via barge. Its deepwater dock is ideal for a potential offshore wind port, as developers eye new projects in the Gulf of Maine. But wind projects remain years away, with the Biden administration only recently moving to open the area to leasing. In the interim, Andrews, the CEO, is focused on storage. Granite Shore Power is planning to build a 150-MW battery system at Schiller, which once was home to the mercury turbine pictured in the hallway of Andrews’ office. Another 100-MW battery would be built at the site of Merrimack Station, the coal plant outside Concord. It would be accompanied by a 10-MW solar farm. Those are massive storage projects by New England standards. The region has only installed 360 MW of batteries to date. But Andrews thinks Granite Shore Power’s coal plants offer a unique opportunity. Each facility has acreage and an existing interconnection with the power system. They also offer a chance to help address the reliability challenges stemming from New England’s limited gas pipeline system, he said. “If I can’t get gas off the pipe at a price that allows me to be dispatched, it’s sort of like the resource is there and not being utilized,” Andrews said. Batteries, by contrast, will draw energy when there is a surplus and dispatch it when it’s needed, he said. “That’s probably the optimum resource right now to build, in my view,” he said. Andrews describes his vision for an offshore wind port at the 75-year-old Schiller Station. | Benjamin Storrow/POLITICO’s E&E News New England is traditionally a difficult market for energy storage, which typically gravitates to markets with large amounts of solar generation like California and Texas. That creates a predictable pattern for electricity prices, with batteries able to charge when power is cheap during the day and discharging electricity in the evening when prices rise. While New England has seen significant growth in its rooftop solar industry, it has yet to reach the level of solar penetration generally sought by battery developers. But there is evidence that is starting to change. Elevate Renewables, an arm of the private equity firm ArcLight Capital, has proposed replacing its oil-fired generator in Middletown, Connecticut, with a 200-MW battery. Much like Granite Shore Power, Elevate Renewables is looking to use existing infrastructure to bring clean energy online. That is particularly valuable in a region where permitting and interconnection are two of the biggest barriers to clean energy development, said Eric Cherniss, who leads renewable development at the company. “It’s one of the largest holdups to delivering some of this energy transition, is the building of new infrastructure,” Cherniss said. “So let’s use what we have now to its greatest extent possible and have the highest impact in the short term.” Still, the application of batteries in New England will likely be limited. Today’s batteries often dispatch for two to four hours. That is helpful in handling power demand associated with heat waves. Solar can provide power during the day, while batteries kick in during the early evening hours when demand is high but the sun has gone down. It is less helpful during the prolonged winter cold snaps that grid planners worry about in New England. ISO New England’s modeling shows that batteries would be of limited help after discharging their energy because they would need to recharge at a time when the grid is already stretched. Andrews is clear-eyed about the challenge. He acknowledged that batteries will offer little assistance in a deep freeze. His job is to bring online at least some of the capacity needed to replace the region’s retiring power plants. It’s either that or end up like one of the smiling executives in the photograph in his office.
Agreement Between Granite Shore Power and EPA Paves Way for Battery, Solar, and Other Clean Energy Facilities (Bow, New Hampshire) -- Granite Shore Power (“GSP”) today announced a historic agreement with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) whereby the parties have set a firm date for the voluntary closure by GSP of operations at Merrimack Station, New England’s last remaining coal-fired power plant, as well as Schiller Station. This agreement will facilitate the creation of first-of-their-kind “Renewable Energy Parks” in the state of New Hampshire. GSP’s decision to set a firm closure date for coal-fired operations at both Merrimack and Schiller is part of the company’s long-standing repowering plan. The transformation of these power plants into new, clean energy facilities will mark the end of coal-fired generation in New England and facilitate exciting new economic growth at each location. “From our earliest days as owners and operators, we have been crystal clear; while our power occasionally is still on during New England’s warmest days and coldest nights, we were firmly committed to transitioning our facilities away from coal and into a newer, cleaner energy future. By pursuing and ultimately entering into this voluntary agreement with the U.S. EPA, we are keeping that commitment,” said Jim Andrews, CEO of Granite Shore Power. As part of the redevelopment plan, Schiller Station is advancing a battery energy storage system, taking energy from the grid during low demand and putting it back on the grid during peak periods. Schiller is on the Seacoast and will be integral in supporting reliability daily during peak hours and storage for the wind power that is now being built off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and in the Gulf of Maine. “The New Hampshire Seacoast is an area of high-energy demand and through the repowering of Schiller Station, we will provide carbon neutral power to support the businesses and families of New Hampshire. Our facilities are ideally situated near the infrastructure necessary to transition the region to the next generation of energy resources,” stated Andrews. Merrimack Station has been an important, yet limited, part of New Hampshire’s energy infrastructure for many years. It will continue to be a vital resource when energy demands are at their highest while GSP redevelops nearly 400 acres of land into a clean energy center for generations to come. Through the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in Washington D.C. and the continued shift toward a more electrified economy in New England, developing on-demand generation resources has become more critical than ever to ensure electric reliability for New Englanders. With the continued support of state, federal and local leaders, the redevelopment of both Merrimack and Schiller will enhance the interconnection utilization at the facilities and advance the region’s overall generation mix. “This Agreement is a significant accomplishment in driving clean energy forward, and it took a rejection of rhetoric, a focus on facts and a commitment to shared objectives. We thank U.S. EPA for their leadership and partnership over the past six years and look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to deliver reliable, clean energy for New England,” Andrews concluded.
Granite Shore Power identified as clean energy leader after announcing it will close coal-fired power plants, transition to “Renewable Energy Parks” (Concord, New Hampshire) -- Granite Shore Power (“GSP”) today joined the League of Conservation Voters (“LCV”) at the New Hampshire State House to share GSP’s clean energy transition plan and support for offshore wind development in the New England region. In the coming years, Granite Shore Power will be a key player in creating and supporting clean energy projects, including solar, battery storage systems and other alternatives that promote commerce growth in New Hampshire and other northeast states. “We are proud to share the progress we have made in just over a month since we announced our plans to transition our facilities away from coal,” said Jim Andrews, CEO of Granite Shore Power. “The investments we plan to make in New Hampshire’s port infrastructure will be critical to support offshore wind needs that will stimulate economic growth and development.” GSP has been recognized as a leader in sustainable energy initiatives, and the company’s commitment to advancing offshore wind development underscores its dedication to environmental stewardship and economic progress. “New Hampshire has an unparalleled opportunity to play a key role in the development of offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine and to take advantage of direct benefits from economic development, job creation, and enhanced environmental protection of our natural resources,” said Rob Werner, New Hampshire State Director of the League of Conservation Voters. “Granite Shore Power’s leadership in the arena and their plans to transition legacy fossil fuel plants to support offshore wind and other clean energy sources is visionary and will have a transformative and positive impact on New Hampshire’s energy future.” Earlier this year, GSP announced a historic agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) whereby the parties set a firm date for the voluntary closure by GSP of 2 operations at Merrimack Station, New England’s last remaining coal-fired power plant, as well as Schiller Station. This agreement will facilitate the creation of first-of-their-kind “Renewable Energy Parks” in the state of New Hampshire. GSP’s decision to set a firm closure date for coal-fired operations at both Merrimack and Schiller was part of the company’s long-standing repowering plan. The transformation of these power plants into new, clean energy facilities will mark the end of coal-fired generation in New England and facilitate exciting new economic growth at each location. New Hampshire State Senator David Watters joined The League of Conservation Voters and Granite Shore Power to urge his Senate colleagues to support and prioritize clean energy projects. “Granite Shore Power is delivering on their promise to usher in a clean energy future in New Hampshire. Coal-powered fuel will come to an end in New England, to be replaced by clean and renewable energy,” said State Sen. Watters. “I am excited to support GSP’s plans for solar, battery storage and alternative renewable projects at these important sites.” “By prioritizing clean energy initiatives and voluntarily closing their coal-fired plants, Granite Shore Power is setting an example for the industry,” said Sam Evans-Brown, Executive Director, Clean Energy NH. “Their proactive steps to shape the future of energy in the region while mitigating climate change will pave the way for a cleaner, more affordable future here in New Hampshire.” As part of the redevelopment plan, Schiller Station is advancing a battery energy storage system, taking energy from the grid during low demand and putting it back on the grid during peak periods. Schiller is on the Seacoast and will be integral in supporting reliability daily during peak hours and storage for the wind power that is now being built off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and in the Gulf of Maine. Merrimack Station has been an important, yet limited, part of New Hampshire’s energy infrastructure for many years. It will continue to be a vital resource when energy demands are at their highest while GSP redevelops nearly 400 acres of land into a clean energy center for generations to come. Through the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in Washington D.C. and the continued shift toward a more electrified economy in New England, developing on-demand generation resources has become more critical than ever to ensure electric reliability for New Englanders. With the continued support of state, federal and local leaders, the redevelopment of both Merrimack and Schiller will enhance the interconnection utilization at the facilities and advance the region’s overall generation mix.
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