Bow in talks to become site of new data center
The town of Bow, New Hampshire, is in high-level discussions about becoming the site of a new 350-megawatt data center at the former Merrimack Station site. Granite Shore Power has filed a request with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to discuss power grid connections with Eversource for the project. This potential development comes amidst growing statewide opposition to data centers, including Governor Kelly Ayotte's support for a moratorium on their construction.
Bow, New Hampshire, is currently engaged in high-level discussions with an unnamed company regarding the development of a 350-megawatt data center, likely to be located at the site of the former Merrimack Station coal-fired power plant. Granite Shore Power, the owner of the Merrimack Station property, has initiated contact with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to explore connecting the project to Eversource's power grid. This filing, submitted in April, seeks to identify potential adverse impacts and necessary infrastructure for grid integration.
Town officials, including Kip McDaniel, chair of Bow's select board and a member of the planning board, confirmed the ongoing discussions, highlighting the town's interest in attracting businesses to appropriately zoned areas. McDaniel emphasized the significant boost a data center could provide to Bow's tax base, given its unique geographic position and the site's existing power grid connections and access to the Merrimack River for cooling. Eversource spokesman William Hinkle affirmed the utility's legal obligation to assess all developer proposals.
The potential development in Bow unfolds against a backdrop of increasing statewide resistance to data centers in New Hampshire. Governor Kelly Ayotte recently expressed support for a moratorium on data center construction, citing concerns over the impact on energy ratepayers. This sentiment follows local actions, such as Canterbury residents voting to ban AI data centers and community backlash leading to the withdrawal of a data center proposal in Nottingham. The article notes that while 10 data centers currently exist in New Hampshire, none are in Merrimack County, making the Bow project a significant potential first for the area.