We brought this bill to Rep. Wheeler, who introduced it in a public hearing at the start of January. 95 people signed in to support this bill, and despite the snow we had 5 or 6 people testify in person. The House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee unanimously voted down our bill, with a recommendation of “inexpedient to legislate.” The House then voted to uphold the committee’s decision.

We are disappointed but not surprised. 

The proposed legislation would establish a commission to study the replacement of the coal plant with clean energy. While the owners of the coal plant are likely thinking about this process already, this bill does one key thing that the owners have refused to do: bring impacted Bow residents and environmental advocates to the table. 

The coal plant pollutes the Bow community, the Merrimack River, and all the surrounding towns. Asthma attacks, lunch ailments, and even deaths in this area are caused by living, breathing, and working near this coal plant. It is imperative that the people impacted the most by this facility are heard in the process of deciding what happens next. 

We have seen far too many communities and workers impacted by coal be abandoned by companies involved, and too many coal plants transitioned to fracked gas, which is just as harmful. Here is some of the testimony that was submitted by you wonderful community members:

Amy Antonucci

I think that the health of my family, my friends, and all my fellow citizens of New Hampshire should be protected and valued. I support Bow residents who are closest to the plant being empowered to join in decisions about the plant. This is a health, environmental, and democracy issue.

Deb Baker

Electricity costs too much in NH and the state should be transitioning to clean renewable energy like the rest of the region and the world. It’s cheaper and healthier.

Rebecca Beaulieu

To the House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee: I ask that you support HB 1289 to create a commission to study the transition of the coal plant in Bow to clean energy. Now is the time to make sure that the transition of this coal plant is done intentionally with the community in and around Bow instead of behind closed doors. As a member of the public I have been involved in efforts to reach out to the owners of the coal plant, Granite Shore Power. They have not responded to mine or efforts of others to have a meeting or even just to answer a phone call. I have attended numerous public meetings at ISO New England to understand how our energy system works, submitted public comments to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and engaged in the regulatory process. In 2023, the coal plant did not qualify for the ISO-NE’s FCA 17 Forward Capacity Auction. This means that they will not receive forward capacity payments for June 2026-May 2027. Their failure to secure these payments means that the coal plant is unlikely to maintain its current operations past 2026. With that date in mind, the owners MUST be thinking about the future of that site in Bow. In addition, as reported by Hadley Barndollar at NH Bulletin, the coal plant has had numerous permit violations for emitting too many particulates, and too much mercury. Now is the time for the conversation about this coal plant to include everyone it impacts. The people of Bow, the workers at the plant, the IBEW, the coal plant CEO, and the state of New Hampshire must come together. When it comes to energy sources like coal, gas, or other fossil fuels, it is irresponsible and immoral to operate these facilities without the input of people most impacted by them. If the discussion about transitioning this coal plant to clean energy does not include Bow residents in any way, it is neglecting members of the public. If it does not include workers and worker unions, it is doing a disservice to our workforce. The coal plant currently impacts the community who works and lives in Bow by contributing property taxes to the town, by emitting particulate matter, and by polluting the environment. Because of these specific impacts, the community should be consulted when it comes to changing the energy supply. Clean energy is a necessary replacement because the years of coal have heavily polluted the soil, air, and water of the area. Residents need to know that this business is not going to further damage their homes and workplaces. They deserve at minimum to be a part of the transition conversation. This conversation between workers, community members, and the coal plant operators is not happening and won’t unless the state steps in to push Granite Shore Power to consider how their business impacts Bow and surrounding towns. We need to be more mindful about how we treat our neighbors and how we treat our environment and this bill is a step in the right direction.

Gerald Beck

Investing any further money into this coal fired dinosaur is huge mistake. I'm sure you are well aware that coal (and especially this plant) belches out all sorts of pollution, causing health issues (espectially for local residents). Scientists have warned the world repeatedly that greenhouse gas emissions MUST be drastically cut if we are to avoid the worse effects of of the climate crisis. Turning the page on the current operations of the Bow plant opens up opportunities to invest in the future of green energy. Done properly, this facility could become part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.

Jeffrey Beland

Merrimack Station coal plant is directly linked to higher mercury levels, cancer rates, asthma rates, and premature death in people with heart or lung disease in Bow and surrounding communities. Over the past year it has repeatedly failed the standards of the Clear Air Action established in the 1970s, and NH Department of Environmental Services has cited several more permit deviations. The fact that something like this coal plant continues is atrocious when it is directly causing harm to innocent citizens.

Candace Bergstrom

WHY I CARE Merrimack Station coal plant is directly linked to higher mercury levels, cancer rates, asthma rates, and premature death in people with heart or lung disease in Bow and surrounding communities. Over the past year it has repeatedly failed the standards of the Clear Air Action established in the 1970s, and NH Department of Environmental Services has cited several more permit deviations. WHY I CARE When operating at full capacity, the Bow power plant emits more CO2 in just one hour than the average American does in 26 years of life. NH’s natural resources, way of life, and tourism-based economy are threatened by how fast our winters are warming, and all NH residents and industries are affected by flooding from increased rainfall. WHY I CARE The coal plant in Bow causes negative health impacts on the surrounding community and can be attributed to around 3 deaths and 47 asthma attacks every year. Continued fossil fuel presence in the area will hurt residents further when we could transition the plan into clean energy. WHY NOW There are signs that Merrimack Station might close very soon (lost forward-capacity funding, failed air pollution stack tests, other NH DES permit violations). If Merrimack Station is decommissioned, it will cause a significant increase in property taxes for Bow residents, many of whom already struggle to afford to live there. WHY NOW Given the large amount of federal funding allocated for a limited time and on a first-come, first-serve basis to help transition coal plants to clean energy, investigating the feasibility and desirability of such a transition needs to begin right away. WHY NOW We want the Merrimack Generating Station to provide steady, clean, well paid work for local labor force. WHY NOW Including public participation, education, and outreach early on generally helps developers move through permitting processes faster and lowers overall cost of development. WHY THIS BILL Planning for the future of Merrimack Station needs to include participation from local residents who are most affected economically and in their health. This allows Bow residents to be a part of the conversation about the future of the plant, so that the town can budget and plan land use accordingly. WHY THIS BILL This bill focuses on possible clean energy solutions because NH’s electric costs are high due to our over reliance on outdated fossil fuel technology. Beginning in 2019 it became more expensive to maintain existing coal plants than to replace them with new clean energy sources. It is more cost-effective to build a new solar or wind plant than to build a new gas-powered plant. WHY THIS BILL New Hampshire Department of Energy (NH DoE) and Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) are leading the state’s current efforts to pursue federal funding for infrastructure, energy, and the environment and could provide valuable assistance in understanding federal funding opportunities. State legislators, NH DoE, and NH DES set the regulatory environment for NH. Participation from all entities is necessary to ensure a feasible, desirable, and commercially viable future for Merrimack Station. Thank you, Candace Bergstrom

ALEXANDER BERNHARD

We need to provide the Bow plant with an off ramp from coal before it collapses from the use of that fuel. This bill will help to provide that ramp for the benefit of the plant, the rate payers and the environment.

Doug Bogen

NH House Science, Technology and Energy Committee Legislative Office Building Concord, NH Re: HB 1289 - establishing a commission to study the replacement of the peaker plant in Bow with a clean energy baseload generator and storage Dear ST&E Committee, While I am unable to attend the hearing on this bill, HB 1289, I would like to submit the following comments in support of it. As a director of statewide and regional environmental and clean energy organizations for the past couple decades, I have had opportunity to research and educate the public on the many environmental and public health threats posed by the continued burning of coal at Merrimack Station in Bow. Whether it was mercury emissions contributing to a statewide fish consumption warning, SO2 and NOx threatening the health or lives of asthmatics and other sensitive individuals downwind of the plant or toxic gases contributing to the acidification of downwind lakes and ponds in the region, we all became more aware of the great price paid in terms of environmental public health damage from this plant's emissions over the past five decades. Now that this plant is nearing the end of its life as a baseload coal power generator, it simply makes sense to begin considering the options for a clean and safe alternative use of its land and power grid infrastructure. Large scale solar and offshore wind generated “green” hydrogen are just two of the promising and increasingly necessary future renewable power uses for this facility. So it behooves the NH legislature to begin exploring these opportunities now while federal funding is becoming available for such uses. It would also be fairer to the host Town of Bow and neighboring communities that have borne the brunt of environmental impacts from this plant in the past and now bear the threat of lost jobs and other economic impacts from its looming retirement. Please support this timely legislation, and thank you for consideration of these comments. Sincerely, Doug Bogen Executive Director Seacoast Anti-Pollution League Barrington, NH

Paula Brown

It is not enough for me to do all I can personally to reverse global warming. Big changes need to be made at the state and federal level, as well, in order to repair the damage done, and leave a better world for our children and grandchildren. I support this bill to decrease the reliance on fossil fuel in New Hampshire, and to switch to clean energy sources to provide energy needed by NH residents. I am tired of government officials kicking the can down the road and putting off making necessary changes so that they can maintain the status quo for now. Maybe we will need to endure hardship, but it MUST be done!

William Coder

As Merrimack Station is now a limited use peaker plant, it is not currently generating large quantities of Co2, but remains a source of several other unhealthy pollutants and continues to produce toxic ash stored nearby. Under the Inflation Reduction Act there are competitive opportunities for EPA grants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in communities which have borne the brunt of past pollution. The plant's pollution legacy should be a good match for this type of grant. A plan could be developed for conversion to solar plus storage which might qualify for an EPA grant in the event the current owner closes the plant once its forward capacity subsidy runs out. Retaining an operating but pollution free generation site would be helpful to the Bow town tax base and local employment..

Alan Coulter

It makes a lot of sense to stop using coal, and look into alternatives for the Bow plant!

Lisa Demaine

As a concerned young person in NH I support this bill. Merrimack Station coal plant is directly linked to higher mercury levels, cancer rates, asthma rates, and premature death in people with heart or lung disease in Bow and surrounding communities. Over the past year it has repeatedly failed the standards of the Clear Air Action established in the 1970s, and NH Department of Environmental Services has cited several more permit deviations. I want the Merrimack Generating Station to provide steady, clean, well paid work for the local labor force. Planning for the future of Merrimack Station needs to include participation from local residents who are most affected economically and in their health. This allows Bow residents to be a part of the conversation about the future of the plant, so that the town can budget and plan land use accordingly. Thank you

Joanne Devlin

We need to move away from coal and other fossil fuels in order to have a healthy climate.

Jennifer Dube

I support this bill because we need to find out what the options are for what can replace the coal plant in Bow. Whether it be a huge solar farm or battery making facility, it should support a better way of life for the people of New Hampshire. Burning coal a few weeks out of the year isn't doing that.

David Erikson

It makes sense to start looking into how best to use the infrastructure present at the site of the soon to be decommissioned plant so the state can have some kind of use for what is there. The bill suggests a good representation of legislators, experts and stakeholders.

Susan FERRE

Please, our actions are crucial!

Kendra Ford

Merrimack Generating Station was built in the 1960s as a baseload generation plant. Now it runs as a peaker plant, an inefficient use of the plant in every single way. The economics of energy production have turned, solar makes more sense economically. Why the Merrimack Generating Station persists in burning coal is a mystery - it pollutes local water ways and air. It has now failed the forward capacity auction with the ISO. It's failing its stack tests. The plant is done. A thoughtful study of what makes sense for the citizens of NH (who are, in fact, still paying for the scrubber as well as the forward capacity payments in our bills) for energy production. All energy production questions are climate and justice conversations, they cannot be separated. That is why a study commission would be wise, a thoughtful and thorough assessment of our energy future from all angles. It needs to be a publicly owned conversation. Merrimack Generating station used to be a solid local employer. As it runs now, it is it not. Again, the economics of it's current condition have clearly expired and good conversation needs to be had about its future, about the future of local jobs, local health, and global energy production.

Barbara Frake

We only have one planet, and NH has this opportunity to protect the health of its residents, and protect its beautiful landscape from the damage caused by fossil fuels.

Marjorie Goudreault

The coal plant in Bow causes negative health impacts on the surrounding community and can be attributed to around 3 deaths and 47 asthma attacks every year. Continued fossil fuel presence in the area will hurt residents further when we could transition the plan into clean energy.

Robert Haring-Smith

I support this bill to provide an orderly process leading to the closing of the coal-fired power plant in Bow--a process in which local citizens who are most affected by the plant's presence and would be most affected by an abrupt closure of the plant have significant input. Now is the time to act in order to take advantage of federal funds supporting the transition of coal power plants to clean energy. Everyone in New Hampshire benefits when we act to reduce carbon emissions that are warming our climate and harming health, agriculture, and tourism in our state.

Bonnie Hill

To me this is a no-brainer. For the sake of the environment, the coal plant has to close, and the ideal outcome for the people who work there would be for it to be transitioned to a clean energy plant. If federal money is available to make that happen, then it would be crazy not to use it. This would be a win-win for the taxpayers and everyone who breathes the air in NH.

Richard Husband

It does not hurt to consider the matter. Such replacement may be too early right now, but it is inevitable, so we should stay out in front of the issue. Probably not likely on either front, but could Bow be converted to burn NH wood and/or is there any project that could be pitched to the Feds under the state's updated Climate Plan?

Margaret Jernstedt

It is time for NH to have a study commission to involve knowledgeable residents and leaders in our state in planning for the transition of the coal plant in Bow to clean energy.

Robert Keene

Any attempts to block public input when governments are acting to protect the quality of their lives is against the basic principles of democratic government!

Jessica Kobsa

Merrimack Station coal plant is directly linked to higher mercury levels, cancer rates, asthma rates, and premature death in people with heart or lung disease in Bow and surrounding communities. Over the past year it has repeatedly failed the standards of the Clear Air Action established in the 1970s, and NH Department of Environmental Services has cited several more permit deviations. Given the large amount of federal funding allocated for a limited time and on a first-come, first-serve basis to help transition coal plants to clean energy, investigating the feasibility and desirability of such a transition needs to begin right away. Also, we want the Merrimack Generating Station to provide steady, clean, well paid work for local labor force. This bill focuses on possible clean energy solutions because NH’s electric costs are high due to our overreliance on outdated fossil fuel technology. Beginning in 2019 it became more expensive to maintain existing coal plants than to replace them with new clean energy sources. It is more cost-effective to build a new solar or wind plant than to build a new gas-powered plant.

Donald Leisman

Dear New Hampshire state employee: I live in Concord, New Hampshire please close down the coal burning electrical, generating plant in Bow New Hampshire. Do this for better health for everyone that lives in harms way of this burning plant. Thank you, Donald Leisman.

Dylan Lucas

I, Dylan Lucas a resident of Bow, became a solar engineer because of the ice storm of 2008 that left us without power for 10 days. We could see the Merrimack station running, but we did not have power. Centralized generation is being replaced with smaller sized power plants, because moving energy (and building the infrastructure to do so), is expensive. The power infrastructure at the Merrimack station is under utilized, because coal is a peaker plant, and not a baseload generator. By adding energy storage in the form of batteries, we would utilize the grid twice as much (charging and discharging), without having to build additional grid infrastructure for new power plant facilities. I have developed solar in Massachusetts where the cost of the grid upgrades were equal to the cost of the entire solar power plant project. And it was still beneficial to build lower cost solar generation that was now double the cost with grid upgrades, due to rising electricity rates rising caused by higher electrical demand. It is in our best interest (all utility ratepayers) to utilize the existing Merrimack station infrastructure, instead of paying more in our electricity rates to build a new substation and interconnection point for the electricity generation required as our region electrifies heat and transportation. We should use what we have, and save ratepayers money. Transition the coal plant to a battery storage facility. Thank you.

Nicholas Lydon

Good afternoon, I meant to submit verbal testimony to take questions, but I got in late and didn't get a card signed. I would like to briefly give my reason for why I support this bill and believe the committee should as well. The Bow power plant is shutting down, it's an inevitability. What isn't an inevitability is what happens to that land when it does. Given a few key things in our state, I believe they all point towards the need for a subcommittee to explore the options. Firstly, our state is undergoing a moment of growth right now. The New Hampshire business review stated that studies show a need for about 90,000 new housing units in the next 15 years. Figuring that these won't be just single people moving into these units, that a pump of nearly 10% of our population in only 15 years. Our need for more cost affordable electricity is not shrinking, it's growing. And it grows even further when you figure that these new residents will also be expanding our need for electricity with the new jobs they bring to the area. Bow is a unique situation because of the largely underutilized area it sits on. At a little under 300 acres, this power plant barely uses a fraction of that. This leaves the possibility of repurposing the plant, while also building solar and battery storage on site to further capitalize on its space. As far as a repurpose, the federal Department of Energy has done studies and found that sub-Gigawatt (less than 1,000 Megawatts) coal plants are prime spots to convert to an SMR (Small Modular Reactor). Plus, there's always the potential to entertain hydrogen as a possible fuel source. All this is to say, there's a lot of options out there. Finally, why should the state form a commission? I think the answer to this question is a few parts. First, it was brought up in the meeting that the free market dictates our demand for power. This is true, but the free market also brought about the catastrophe down in Texas with its grid stability issues. The free market also brought us last winter where our over reliance on natural gas hurt so many people. The free market is great at some things, but the free market doesn't care about growth in our state, we all care about that. And with a push to drive more business and industry into our state, and expand the businesses that are already here, it will be hard to do that while also being the 4th highest in electricity costs in the country. I don’t feel that it is out of the ordinary for states to be involved in their own futures, and I believe the 7-state coalition between Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey proves that. The coalition for a hydrogen energy hub was an act of states getting together to determine their energy future, and their business future. They’ve applied for $1.25 billion to fund a comprehensive network of future energy production and utilization. By no means does New Hampshire need something this drastic, but I would hate to see our state miss out on another opportunity like this. This plan set forth by the coalition wasn’t a group of venture capitalists getting together to wager on a state’s future, it was a collection of states officials taking their future into their own hands and leading the conversation. If the committee has any questions, I would be more than willing to answer or take feed back through email, thank you for your time and service.

Elise MacDonald

Substantial new federal funding is available for a limited time and on a first-come, first-serve basis to ease transition coal plants to clean energy. Therefore, investigating the feasibility and desirability of such a transition must start immediately.

Rebecca MacKenzie

Dear Representatives of the People of NH, Support HB 1289. Please represent my interest in transitioning to a renewable energy source (excluding nuclear energy, as it is classified as a non-renewable source according to Penn State's Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering) for our base load and peak load electrical power generation by supporting HB 1289. Retiring the burning of coal at the Merrimack Station/ Bow Power Facility will be a win for our health, our economy and for addressing the climate crisis. We can see with the evidence of the climate crisis in my community of Claremont as a result of extreme weather events. Just this past week my neighbor's home reconstruction project was completed from a storm that landed a huge pine tree through his roof and bedroom ceiling. This reconstruction took several months to complete. This is the second tree that has fallen and damaged his property due to high winds in the last few years. I have been treated for Lyme Disease twice, which was an involved, 5-month process due to my health condition, and my health insurance did not pay for this care. As a child growing up in Claremont, I never had a tick on me. According to data available on the Climate Central website, Concord has 24 days a year warmer than it did in 1970. Since 1970, the data reveals that "winters have warmed by 3.8°F on average across 233 U.S. locations. Warmer, shorter winters have lingering effects on health, water supplies, and agriculture throughout the year." In NH, the economy is affected by the reduction of snowpack which impacts our winter outdoor recreational opportunities like skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, skating, the Abenaki Snow Snake Games, etc. In addition to this, we have the Sugar River running through our community. The river has flooded Claremonter's roads and properties, causing damage. These are just a few examples of why we need to transition to renewable energy in NH asap. There are many more. I imagine you have your own examples. Supporting HB 1289 will move NH in the right direction to addressing the climate crisis for our children and all our descendants. Thank you for supporting HB 1289! Rebecca MacKenzie, Claremont, NH

John Miller

When operating at full capacity, the Bow power plant emits more CO2 in just one hour than the average American does in 26 years of life. NH’s natural resources, way of life, and tourism-based economy are threatened by how fast our winters are warming, and all NH residents and industries are affected by flooding from increased rainfall.

Susan Moore

I am a citizen of Bow. I have asthma and I need to have clean air to breathe as we all do. The Bow Coal Plant has consistently not passed requirements of the Clean Air Act, which is unacceptable to citizens of Bow and the communities around us. I support this HB and having citizens from Bow’s Energy Committee be a part of that Committee . Clean Energy is vital to the health of the people of Bow, NH, and of all living things.

Robin Mower

Economic, health, and climate change arguments for supporting this bill are clear -- on the local level, as well as the State level. Legislators should WANT to see local support and input, and they should WANT the state to seek federal funding to enable us to take this kind of big step toward emissions reduction. These goals would be addressed by the passage of this bill.

Karin Nelson

I support this bill and any other steps toward catching up with our New England neighbors in trying to fight climate change before it's too late! This is THE most serious problem facing the entire globe and it's about time that we do our part.

Elizabeth O’Malley

Merrimack Station coal plant is directly linked to higher mercury levels, cancer rates, asthma rates, and premature death in people with heart or lung disease in Bow and surrounding communities. Over the past year it has repeatedly failed the standards of the Clear Air Action established in the 1970s, and NH Department of Environmental Services has cited several more permit deviations. In addition, when operating at full capacity, the Bow power plant emits more CO2 in just one hour than the average American does in 26 years of life. NH’s natural resources, way of life, and tourism-based economy are threatened by how fast our winters are warming, and all NH residents and industries are affected by flooding from increased rainfall. New Hampshire is falling behind!! We cannot afford to keep coal in NH. It is time to catch up with our neighbors and focus all efforts on non-polluting forms of energy.

Keely Power

I support a transition to clean energy because I have children, family, friends and neighbors who deserve to live in a clean and safe environment. We have plentiful research to show that coal is a dirty energy source and has direct negative impacts on human health—cancer, asthma, early death for example. The time is always now to support legislation that serves purposes beyond just those of a healthier environment and the communities—take advantage of federal funding allocated the exact purpose of transitioning coal plants to clean energy; provide local jobs; and help drive electricity costs down which are exorbitant because NHs outdated use of coal plants/dirty energy. The time is now to support this bill. Thank you.

Bettye Pruitt

It is essential to have public participation in making decisions about our energy future.

Eleanor Reid

Investing in ways to maintain our air and water is a great use of NH taxpayer money.

Linda Rhodes

The adverse health effects of this coal burning plant are clear - it hurts the surrounding community. This plant has failed required testing and is likely to close soon, which will eliminate jobs, and raise taxes in Bow. There is money available for conversion to clean energy, which could provide jobs while at the same time, cleaning up the environment. This plant is old, outdated, contributing to pollution and it's time NOW to do something about it.

Holly Rioux

Hello, this is an important issue that cannot wait any longer. The plant has been cited multiple times for environmental protection violations, directly harming the health of citizens in Bow and its surrounding towns. It’s time for a solution. Merrimack Station coal plant is directly linked to higher mercury levels, cancer rates, asthma rates, and premature death in people with heart or lung disease in Bow and surrounding communities. Over the past year it has repeatedly failed the standards of the Clear Air Action established in the 1970s, and NH Department of Environmental Services has cited several more permit deviations. When operating at full capacity, the Bow power plant emits more CO2 in just one hour than the average American does in 26 years of life. NH’s natural resources, way of life, and tourism-based economy are threatened by how fast our winters are warming, and all NH residents and industries are affected by flooding from increased rainfall. The coal plant in Bow causes negative health impacts on the surrounding community and can be attributed to around 3 deaths and 47 asthma attacks every year. Continued fossil fuel presence in the area will hurt residents further when we could transition the plan into clean energy. There are signs that Merrimack Station might close very soon (lost forward-capacity funding, failed air pollution stack tests, other NH DES permit violations). If Merrimack Station is decommissioned, it will cause a significant increase in property taxes for Bow residents, many of whom already struggle to afford to live there. Given the large amount of federal funding allocated for a limited time and on a first-come, first-serve basis to help transition coal plants to clean energy, investigating the feasibility and desirability of such a transition needs to begin right away. We want the Merrimack Generating Station to provide steady, clean, well paid work for local labor force. Including public participation, education, and outreach early on generally helps developers move through permitting processes faster and lowers overall cost of development. Planning for the future of Merrimack Station needs to include participation from local residents who are most affected economically and in their health. This allows Bow residents to be a part of the conversation about the future of the plant, so that the town can budget and plan land use accordingly. This bill focuses on possible clean energy solutions because NH’s electric costs are high due to our overreliance on outdated fossil fuel technology. Beginning in 2019 it became more expensive to maintain existing coal plants than to replace them with new clean energy sources. It is more cost-effective to build a new solar or wind plant than to build a new gas-powered plant. New Hampshire Department of Energy (NH DoE) and Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) are leading the state’s current efforts to pursue federal funding for infrastructure, energy, and the environment and could provide valuable assistance in understanding federal funding opportunities. State legislators, NH DoE, and NH DES set the regulatory environment for NH. Participation from all entities is necessary to ensure a feasible, desirable, and commercially viable future for Merrimack Station.

Michele Siegmann

I support this bill because climate change is underway. New Hampshire needs to do everything it can to decrease the amount of CO2 that we are emitting. If we act now to transform the Bow plant into making renewable energy, there is a large amount of federal funding allocated for a limited time and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Investigating the feasibility and desirability of such a transition needs to begin right away.

Laura Simon

I am concerned that NH continues to allow a coal plant to function. It is time to shut it down due to the health and environmental impacts of the plant.

Olivia Smith

It's difficult to understand what arguments there are for not passing this bill. It makes possible the opportunity to apply for a grant that will pay for converting the plant to sustainable energy and reduce green house gas omissions. That's a bargain for the state and gain for the health of it's citizens.

Mary Till

The environment belongs to everybody. Citizens should have a say about what gets put into our environment. It's time to stop burning fuels that pollute our environment when there are so many clean options.

Joan Tulk

Now is the time to do something to fight the climate crisis and protect the health of people in the Bow area! Please act to take advantage of the federal grant to transition away from the coal fired power plant to renewable energy. Thank you!

Barbara Widger

Given the large amount of federal funding allocated for a limited time and on a first-come, first-serve basis to help transition coal plants to clean energy, investigating the feasibility and desirability of such a transition needs to begin right away. In its current state the Bow powerplant contributes to global warming by its CO2 emmisions, serious negative health effects for those in surrounding communities. My husband and I want Merrimack Generating Station to provide steady, clean, well paid work for local labor force!