Eversource discusses potential data center in Bow, New Hampshire

Eversource executives, including New Hampshire Electric operations president Bob Coates and vice president Brian Dickie, recently disclosed plans for a potential data center in Bow, New Hampshire, during an “Energy Informational Series” meeting in Concord. According to Dickie, the unnamed developer is interested in building a facility that could draw up to 200 megawatts of electricity, a significant load that would make it the largest single electricity user in the state.

Attorney Donald M. Kreis, the state’s Consumer Advocate, expressed his view that ratepayers should not panic about this potential development. Citing a white paper from Duke University and the capabilities of companies like Emerald AI, Kreis suggests that data center loads, even large ones, can be managed effectively through curtailment agreements (brief disconnections from the grid during peak demand). He posits that if managed correctly, data centers could absorb a substantial portion of the fixed costs of maintaining the electric grid, potentially reducing electricity costs for all ratepayers.

Kreis acknowledged the aesthetic concerns often associated with data centers but noted that a Bow location would likely be near existing infrastructure, such as the former Merrimack Station, rather than scenic areas. He also highlighted the potential for significant property tax revenue for Bow. The Consumer Advocate emphasized that such discussions, even informal disclosures, should occur in public forums to ensure transparency, especially given the presence of state officials at the meeting where the data center plans were first mentioned.