The last two coal-fired power plants in New England are set to close by 2025 and 2028, marking the end of an era that spanned over 50 years of supplying electricity to the region. The decision to close the Merrimack and Schiller stations in New Hampshire makes New England the second region in the country, after the Pacific Northwest, to stop burning coal. This significant shift towards cleaner energy sources comes after a five-year legal battle waged by environmentalists against the New Hampshire plants.

The battle stemmed from accusations that the owner had been discharging warm water from steam turbines into a nearby river without cooling it first to match the natural temperature. In a settlement reached with the Sierra Club and the Conservation Law Foundation, Granite Shore Power, the owner of the plants, agreed that Schiller would cease operations after December 31, 2025, and that Merrimack would follow suit no later than June 2028.

“This announcement is the culmination of years of persistence and dedication from so many people across New England,” said Gina McCarthy, a former national climate advisor and environmental advocate. “I’m wicked proud to live in New England today and be here. Every day, we’re showing the rest of the country that we will secure our clean energy future without compromising.”

The closure of these coal-fired power plants signifies a crucial step towards reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to cleaner energy sources. Coal use has significantly declined in the United States as natural gas and renewable sources like wind and solar have become more affordable and accessible. While coal still accounted for about 17 percent of American electricity in 2023, analysts predict a sharp decline in the coal industry as the nation’s demand for electricity surges.

The dirty fossil fuel, coal, was responsible for 59 percent of carbon emissions from electricity in 2021, despite generating less than a quarter of the country’s electricity that year. Climate activists utilized different strategies to hasten the closure of the coal plants, including legal battles, advocacy campaigns, and market competition tactics.

The Conservation Law Foundation successfully lobbied for the separation of the company that owned the coal power plants and the utilities that distributed electricity, believing that without the subsidy and inefficiencies, the coal plants would be unable to compete with more cost-effective renewable energy sources. This strategy paid off in 2018 when Granite Shore Power acquired the plants with the intention of transitioning them into less polluting operations.

The transition of the Merrimack and Schiller power plants into solar farms and battery units that can store electricity from offshore wind turbines represents a significant shift towards a greener and more sustainable energy future for New England. With the closing of these coal-fired power plants, the region is taking a bold step towards reducing carbon emissions, preserving the environment, and securing a cleaner energy future for generations to come.