New England Says Goodbye to Coal as Merrimack Station Powers Down – Inside Climate News

Report on the Closure of Merrimack Station and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The permanent cessation of operations at Merrimack Station in Bow, New Hampshire, marks a significant milestone in New England’s energy transition. This report analyzes the closure and its implications through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting progress in clean energy, climate action, public health, and sustainable infrastructure.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy & SDG 13: Climate Action

The shutdown of New England’s last coal-fired power plant is a direct advancement towards achieving SDG 7 and SDG 13. The transition was driven by economic and environmental factors, demonstrating a shift to more sustainable energy systems.

• Economic Viability: The plant’s early retirement, ahead of a 2028 deadline, underscores the economic non-viability of coal power in the region. Over the past two decades, coal has been displaced by more affordable natural gas and renewable energy sources.
• Operational Decline: Merrimack Station’s capacity utilization fell from 70-80% in the early 2000s to less than 8% in the last six years, indicating its diminished role in the energy market.
• Climate Impact Mitigation: The closure eliminates a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. For every hour of operation, the plant emitted more carbon dioxide than the average American produces in 26 years. This cessation is a critical action for climate change mitigation (SDG 13).
• Grid Stability: The impact on the regional grid is projected to be minimal. In 2024, the station accounted for only 0.22% of the region’s electricity generation, a shortfall easily covered by renewables, natural gas, and power imports.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 14: Life Below Water

The closure yields substantial co-benefits for public health and environmental protection, aligning with SDG 3 and SDG 14.

1. Reduction in Air Pollution: A 2023 emissions test revealed the plant was emitting particulate matter at levels 70% above federal limits, along with elevated levels of mercury and nitrogen oxide. Halting these emissions directly contributes to Target 3.9, which aims to reduce illnesses and deaths from hazardous pollution.
2. Protection of Water Resources: The legal settlement prompting the plant’s closure agreement stemmed from alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. Ceasing operations mitigates risks to local water bodies, supporting the objectives of SDG 14.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth & SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The future of the Merrimack Station site is centered on redevelopment that supports sustainable economic growth and modern infrastructure, in line with SDG 8 and SDG 9.

• Sustainable Redevelopment: Granite Shore Power, the owner, plans to convert the site into a “Renewable Energy Park.” This project will utilize approximately 400 acres of land and existing grid infrastructure for on-site solar and battery storage.
• Innovation in Infrastructure: This conversion represents a significant upgrade of industrial infrastructure (Target 9.4), transforming a legacy fossil fuel asset into a facility for clean energy generation and storage.
• Just Transition: While the closure creates employment uncertainty, the redevelopment into a renewable energy hub presents opportunities for new, sustainable jobs, contributing to a just transition for the local economy (SDG 8). The Inflation Reduction Act was cited as a key enabler for the financial feasibility of these renewable energy plans.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions & SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The process leading to the plant’s closure exemplifies the power of multi-stakeholder collaboration and civic action in driving environmental progress.

• Effective Partnerships (SDG 17): The 2024 settlement was a collaborative agreement between the private sector (Granite Shore Power), government bodies (Environmental Protection Agency), and civil society organizations (Conservation Law Foundation, Sierra Club).
• Role of Civil Society (SDG 16): Years of sustained activism by the “No Coal No Gas” campaign, involving civil disobedience and public awareness efforts, played a crucial role in pressuring for the plant’s closure and holding institutions accountable.

Future Outlook

While the closure of Merrimack Station is a landmark achievement for regional sustainability, challenges remain. The “No Coal No Gas” campaign is now focusing on oil- and gas-fired “peaker” plants, which are inefficient, high-polluting, and costly. Furthermore, policy uncertainty at the federal level could impact the financial incentives for renewable energy projects. Continued vigilance and partnership will be necessary to ensure the region’s full transition to a clean energy system in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article connects the power plant’s operations to negative health impacts by mentioning its failure of an emissions test. It specifically cites “particulate matter levels 70 percent above federal limits, along with elevated mercury and nitrogen oxide,” which are pollutants known to cause respiratory and other health issues. Closing the plant eliminates this source of hazardous air pollution, contributing to better public health.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: This is a central theme. The article details the shutdown of New England’s “last coal-fired power plant” and its planned replacement with “on-site solar and battery storage.” This represents a direct transition from a polluting, fossil fuel-based energy source to clean, renewable energy, aligning with the goal of increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article touches upon the economic aspects of the energy transition. It notes the “uncertainty for Merrimack Station employees” but also highlights the hope that the station’s conversion into “Renewable Energy Parks” will present “new job and economic opportunities for New Hampshire.” This reflects the goal of fostering sustainable economic growth and productive employment.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The closure of a major industrial polluter within a community directly addresses the goal of reducing the adverse environmental impact of urban and regional areas. By eliminating the source of significant air pollution, the quality of life and environmental health of Bow, New Hampshire, and the surrounding region are improved.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article illustrates a shift away from an unsustainable production pattern. It describes the coal plant as economically “untenable” and inefficient, having “failed to exceed 8 percent [capacity] in the past six years.” Replacing this with renewable energy promotes the sustainable management and efficient use of resources.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article explicitly links the coal plant to climate change by stating that for “every hour the plant operated, it emitted more carbon dioxide than the average American does in 26 years.” The shutdown of the plant is a direct climate action measure aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. The efforts of the “No Coal No Gas” campaign were driven by the need to address the climate crisis.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article highlights the role of institutions and civic action in driving change. This is shown through the “2024 settlement between the company, the Conservation Law Foundation, the Sierra Club and the Environmental Protection Agency over alleged Clean Water Act violations.” Furthermore, the sustained activism, protests, and civil disobedience by groups like “350 New Hampshire” demonstrate participatory action influencing corporate and government decisions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article supports this by detailing the plant’s excessive emissions of “particulate matter,” “mercury,” and “nitrogen oxide,” the closure of which directly reduces air pollution.
• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The plan to convert the Merrimack Station site into a renewable energy park with “on-site solar and battery storage” is a direct contribution to this target.
• Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation. The article describes the shift from an economically failing and highly polluting coal plant to financially feasible renewable energy projects, supported by the “Inflation Reduction Act,” as a clear example of this decoupling.
• Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The shutdown eliminates a major source of air pollution for the community, directly addressing the need to improve regional air quality.
• Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil. The closure of the plant, which had violated the “Clean Water Act” and failed emissions tests, permanently stops its release of pollutants into the air.
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The article mentions the “Inflation Reduction Act” as a national policy that helped make the company’s “renewable-energy plans financially feasible,” demonstrating the integration of climate-friendly policies into economic planning.
• Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The article showcases how years of activism and civil disobedience by the “No Coal No Gas” campaign, which “resulted in over a hundred arrests and drawn national attention,” contributed to the pressure that led to the plant’s closure, illustrating participatory decision-making.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Air Pollution Reduction (Targets 3.9, 11.6, 12.4): The article provides specific metrics of pollution that can be measured. It states the plant’s emissions test found “particulate matter levels 70 percent above federal limits.” The progress indicator is the reduction of these emissions (particulate matter, mercury, nitrogen oxide) from this source to zero.
• Indicator for Renewable Energy Share (Target 7.2): The article implies a future increase in renewable energy generation. While it doesn’t give a specific megawatt (MW) figure for the new solar and battery project, the conversion of the “400 acres of land” from a 438-megawatt coal facility to a renewable energy park provides a basis for measuring the increase in renewable capacity.
• Indicator for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction (Target 13.2): A powerful indicator is stated directly: “for every hour the plant operated, it emitted more carbon dioxide than the average American does in 26 years.” The complete cessation of the plant’s operations means this significant amount of CO2 is no longer being emitted, which is a direct and measurable indicator of progress.
• Indicator for Phasing Out Fossil Fuels (Targets 7.2, 8.4): The article provides clear quantitative data on the decline of coal. It notes that in New England, coal use “fell by more than 90 percent between 2007 and 2017” and that Merrimack Station’s output had “failed to exceed 8 percent” capacity in recent years. The closure of the “last coal-fired power plant” in the region is a definitive milestone indicator.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: insideclimatenews.org