Granite Shore Power CEO Jim Andrews Discusses Importance of Grid Reliability at 2024 New Hampshire Energy Summit
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."