Access to energy resources is at the core of nearly every business, from the electricity that runs lights and computer systems to heating and transportation to powering the machines that build New Hampshire’s manufacturing industry. Our energy experts are sharing some of the ways that businesses can be smarter about their energy consumption and how utility providers and partners are working to make sure power is there when it’s needed.
Panelists:
- Jim Andrews, CEO, Granite Shore Power, graniteshorepower.com
- Kate Peters, director of energy efficiency at Eversource, an NHSaves utility partner, nhsaves.com
- Dan Weeks, VP of business development, ReVision Energy, revisionenergy.com
Jim Andrews, CEO, Granite Shore Power
Q. Could you share your perspective on reliability in New England, and what Granite Shore Power is doing to enhance it?
A. As we approach another New England winter, Granite Shore Power (GSP) generating stations stand ready to provide ISO-New England with reliable electric generation to the families and businesses of New Hampshire when it is needed most.
Recent retirements of power plants as well as announced retirements, including our own Schiller Station in Portsmouth and Merrimack Station in Bow, are being replaced with intermittent resources that represent less than half of the retiring resource capacity. A deficiency of dispatchable resources results in a near-crisis for reliability at a critical time in New England.
To that end, GSP recently announced the transformation and repowering of Schiller and Merrimack into clean energy parks, which will provide New Hampshire with energy storage that dispatches power when it is needed to lower peak demand day in and day out. Schiller and Merrimack are interconnected to the grid, which means they can be developed more quickly. At every turn, we are planning for and considering the future, but we are committed to acting on what we can do today to ensure our current operations meet the energy needs of our communities.
Q. What steps is your team taking today to make this transformation a reality?
A. At GSP we are focused on bringing online new resources, specifically enhanced battery storage systems, which can deliver the power that we need right away — not 10 years from now. The planned battery energy storage system (BESS) at Schiller will charge at points of low energy demand throughout the day and discharge at afternoon and evening peaks, balancing supply and demand in real time. Located on the Seacoast, the Jacona II at Schiller Station will be able to address immediate peaking needs and will also be available to provide storage for the wind power being built off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and in the Gulf of Maine.
Q. Why is battery storage so critical to the reliability of businesses in New Hampshire?
A. Battery storage is a proven technology already benefiting the region, and we know the impact will be even greater as it works in tandem with renewable resources in the future. We are not looking to be aspirational about what the “best” resource will be — but rather we are focused on providing immediate solutions to maintain reliability for electric generation.
Q. How will enhanced energy reliability support New Hampshire’s economy?
A. Economic growth has been strong in the Granite State — recently ranked the No. 1 state in the nation for economic opportunity by U.S. News & World Report. We want New Hampshire to continue to be a place where businesses can grow and prosper, and we believe GSP can support that upward trajectory. To ensure a strong business climate, companies need access to affordable, reliable energy that they can count on during the seasonal swings of our region. Our planned storage projects will be essential dispatchable resources when intermittent resources become interrupted by weather dependency.
Reliable energy is about more than keeping the lights on and the heat running; it is about providing a stable foundation for economic activity.
Electric reliability will be critical for attracting new businesses, as well as supporting existing businesses that wish to expand.
We think New Hampshire is a great business environment but if energy reliability is not there, businesses may be forced to look elsewhere to operate.
Q. As you look ahead, what will be essential for Granite Shore Power to achieve this transition?
A. New Hampshire can be at the forefront of building a clean energy economy, but we need the continued, bipartisan support of federal, state and local officials throughout the redevelopment of Merrimack and Schiller stations. The support from both lawmakers and the community is crucial for creating a regulatory environment that encourages innovation and investment in technologies that provide reliability.
GSP has championed positive relationships among stakeholders in our communities — ranging from our partners in government agencies to the private sector. We will need sustained cooperation to work toward our shared goal of achieving clean energy solutions that will power our region for generations to come.
Kate Peters, director, energy efficiency at Eversource, an NHSaves utility partner
Q. What is energy efficiency, and why is it relevant to New Hampshire businesses?
A. Energy efficiency means using less energy to perform the same task. It involves adopting technologies and practices that reduce energy consumption while maintaining the desired level of performance.
Energy efficiency can be as simple as switching to LED lightbulbs or as comprehensive as upgrading your building’s heating and cooling system. The goal is to reduce energy use, which lowers energy bills, reduces the demand on our energy infrastructure and helps protect the environment.
Q. What are some of the advantages available for businesses and manufacturers that embrace energy-efficiency measures?
A. Energy-efficiency measures can significantly lower their operating costs. By investing in energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and even integrated building controls, businesses can see a substantial reduction in their utility bills. Moreover, these upgrades can improve workplace comfort and productivity, while reducing maintenance costs as well.
The NHSaves utility partners have a strong network of vendors and contractors that we work with to make these upgrades for our customers. It’s important for us to build that trust, both with small and large businesses, and with the growing clean energy workforce in New Hampshire.
Q. What types of energy-efficiency programs are currently available to businesses looking to cut their energy costs?
A. There are numerous offerings available to businesses and municipalities. Business owners and operators may qualify for a no-cost Energy Assessment for Commercial Buildings. This comprehensive assessment will provide personalized recommendations for energy-saving products, solutions and information that are tailored to the customer’s specific building type, to help lower operating costs increase efficiency and maximize savings.
The NHSaves utility partners offer many rebates and incentives for qualifying businesses as well, to help companies or cities and towns across New Hampshire save on upfront costs so that they can make the recommended upgrades and achieve long-term energy savings.
Q. What assistance/guidance is available for businesses to navigate energy-efficiency upgrades, securing funding and maximizing the return on their investments?
A. Energy experts at each of the NHSaves utility partners provide guidance to businesses at every stage of their energy-efficiency journey from the initial assessments to implementation. These experts can also help to navigate the different rebates, incentives and financing options that are available, so that program participants can implement changes strategically.
To get started, we recommend that interested customers reach out to their utility partner, to find out which incentives and programs they qualify for. Customers can reach out directly by submitting a request form at NHSaves.com/contact-us.
Q. Give us a case study of a company that successfully embraced energy-efficiency measures, the economic and environmental benefits they’ve realized, and what lessons others can learn from their experiences.
A. White Mountain Paper, a New Hampshire-based paper mill with a long history dating back to 1852, is a good example. Faced with an aging facility and deferred maintenance, White Mountain Paper tackled significant infrastructure challenges with the support of Eversource, an NHSaves utility partner. The mill replaced outdated lighting with energy-efficient LEDs and upgraded an unreliable, decade-old air compressor with two new high-efficiency compressors.
Thanks to these upgrades, the mill’s power consumption dropped by approximately 60%, resulting in an estimated $26,000-$29,000 in cost savings each year. Over the equipment’s lifetime, the mill is expected to save nearly 57 million kWh (equivalent to avoiding the CO2 emissions that would result from driving over 100 million miles in a gas-powered car), all while supporting the mill’s 75+ jobs and creating opportunities for future growth. You can read the full story — and many others — on NHSaves.com.
Dan Weeks, VP of business development, ReVision Energy
Q. What’s a recent example of ReVision Energy’s successful partnership with a New Hampshire business?
A. In November of 2023, Wire Belt Company of America relocated from its Londonderry headquarters of over 30 years to a new, 120,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Bedford, NH. The company not only significantly expanded operational space through the move, but also renewed its commitment to solar energy with a 1.2-megawatt rooftop array.
Wire Belt’s investment in renewable energy technology started in 2009 in Londonderry with a 100-kilowatt system, the largest in New Hampshire at the time.
Through two later expansions by ReVision, this system grew to 274 kW, bringing the company continually closer to achieving its goal of net-zero operations. At 1.2 MW, the new system is designed to fully maximize solar capacity in Bedford, aligning with what Wire Belt has already achieved at its UK and Germany facilities.
A fifth-generation family-owned business, Wire Belt manufactures custom conveyor belts for use by companies such as McDonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, Quiznos, Papa Gino’s and Domino’s. Globally, Wire Belt is one of the few manufacturers to achieve ISO 14001 registration, an international standard certifying the company’s commitment to the environment and its pledge to reduce, reuse and recycle natural resources.
Q. Why was Wire Belt so invested in installing solar energy systems in its former and new facilities?
A. Wire Belt is on a mission to grow manufacturing in New Hampshire by modeling a commitment to sustainability and energy cost reduction. Solar power has provided Wire Belt a strategic advantage in the highly competitive world of domestic manufacturing, in a state with premium pricing on fossil-fueled energy. It has also served as a point of pride for employees and customers alike, while positioning Wire Belt as a positive example to industry peers in the Granite State and beyond.
“Many of our customers have said they are very pleased (to see this investment), truly appreciate companies like ours, and want to do business with us,” says CEO David Greer. “Manufacturing companies have many cost centers, and electricity can be a large cost, especially in New Hampshire. Generating our own energy is a huge relief valve. It is a cost center that we no longer really worry about, no matter what the electric utilities do with prices.”
Q. What should a business or individual be mindful of in choosing to partner with a solar company?
A. The mindfulness of it being a long-term partnership is essential: a solar system’s life span is generally greater than 20 years, so it’s important to ensure that the installer has longevity, to know not only that they’ve established staying power by being trustworthy for the initial job but also that they’ll be around to help navigate any issues that arise over time. By the same token, a service warranty — ideally along with a dedicated service department — is vital. Proof of third-party auditing and certification — like ReVision’s B Corp status — can be another helpful assurance of reputability. And any indicator of the project crew’s investment in a highquality outcome — such as an employee-ownership model like we have at ReVision, or evidence otherwise that the installation work is not being contracted out haphazardly — is well worth seeking.
