Last New England Coal Plant Closes Three Years Ahead of Retirement Date

BOW, NH.- Merrimack Station, New England's last coal-burning plant, has officially closed in New Hampshire less than 24 hours after the Trump administration announced sweeping measures to revive the coal industry, including opening 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal mining leases, extending compliance deadlines, and rolling back health-improving safeguards against air and water pollution.

The closure comes three years ahead of the 2028 retirement date previously reached following negotiations with Sierra Club, The Conservation Law Foundation, EPA, and the plant's owner Granite Shore Power. Granite Shore Power cited financial reasons for its move to shutter the plant and consider installing a large solar array and utility-scale batteries.

The Trump administration's "Coal Day 2.0" agenda will increase air pollution from coal plants across the country, negatively impacting public health in New Hampshire and the Northeast.

"The early retirement of Merrimack Station is further proof that the Trump Administration propping up aging, expensive coal power is political posturing and a handout for coal executives at the expense of American taxpayers," said Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign Director Laurie Williams

"Bow and the Capitol region can be comforted knowing Merrimack Station will no longer release unhealthy coal pollution into our air and damaging warm-water discharges into our river," added Sierra Club New Hampshire Chapter Director Cathy Corkery."Now, we look ahead to remediation of the Merrimack River and a clean, locally-powered solar array along its banks. When paired with battery storage, this new facility will provide our community with local, cleaner, healthier, and more reliable energy."

Merrimack Station has had an outsized impact on local air and water quality, as the state's largest single source of air pollution. In 2023, the coal plant's particulate matter (PM) emissions allegedly exceeded EPA limits by 70%.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.