New Hampshire – known for its towering mountains, sandy beaches, clear blue lakes, and dense forests. Imagine you were told that this stunning, outdoorsy state had water taken from one of its rivers, run through a coal plant, and discharged back into that same river. If you take pride in the nature and beauty of your state, you would probably be disturbed. Now imagine you were told that this happens in the largest river in New Hampshire on a scale of 300 million gallons of water per day. This action would justifiably incite outrage in you. Well, there’s no need to imagine it because this actually happens.

The Merrimack Station in Bow, New Hampshire is the last major coal-fired power plant in all of New England and is scheduled to run until at least 2025. The water pumped into the Merrimack Station goes through a series of pipes that absorbs heat waste from the coal and is discharged back into the river. Two environmental groups in New Hampshireare challenging the EPA this year after they issued a permit to the Merrimack Station that didn’t include certain water pollution protections. Many Granite Staters are affected by this issue without even knowing it. The River provides drinking water to around 600,000 New Hampshire and Massachusetts residents, and the thermal pollution from the discharged water kills thousands of fish and invites invasive species which can destroy ecosystems in the river and beyond.

As someone who has lived in New Hampshire my whole life and experienced all the great things the state has to offer, learning about this injustice definitely angered me. I live in Nashua, and I know most of Nashua’s drinking water comes from the Merrimack. Thinking about this coal plant taking water that I will drink, putting it through their system, and spitting it back in the river doesn’t sit right with me, especially when it doesn’t follow EPA water pollution protections. This problem plays into the bigger issue of keeping Merrimack Station open. When I read more into the Merrimack Station this summer, it became clear to me how much of a burden it is on our health, environment, and economy. This is something that cannot be overlooked. Coal plants and their processes actively kill us and our environment. Not only is it killing us, the taxpayers of Bow and New Hampshire are paying the price for it too. The Merrimack Station is a terrible investment for the town of Bow and the state of New Hampshire. It takes in millions of dollars of taxpayer money to emit carbon into our atmosphere and water while generating less than 1% of our power. The outdated plant pays less and less money back in taxes as it depreciates and their operating costs increase. Not only that, but the plant has cost the town of Bow millions in legal fees and health costs.

It’s simple – the costs greatly outweigh the benefits and the sooner the plant can shut down, the better it will be for everybody. I personally do not want my or my families taxpayer money going to something that is actively killing us. I would rather see it used towards making energy production in New Hampshire sustainable and independent, which can bring hundreds of jobs to New Hampshire and make our communities cleaner and safer. I know I am not alone with these feelings. If you want cleaner air, cleaner water, and a more economically and environmentally sound way of harnessing energy, you can join the fight against the Merrimack Station by getting involved with several environmental justice groups including 350NH and their No Coal No Gas campaign. You can also advocate and tell your representatives you want renewable energy in your state.

Now imagine you were told New Hampshire has a vibrant community and economy powered by renewable energy that keeps our air, water, and wildlife clean. This reality is closer than many of us might think. It’s up to everyone to fight and push for change. This effort is only possible if you, the reader, stand with the movement and take part in the history of New Hampshire’s transition to renewable energy.

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