1. Can Cheshire County Reach 100% Energy Generation from renewable resources
Logan Felix
Senior
Environmental Studies
Occupational Health and Safety

2. Cheshire County •Population of Cheshire County 75,960 (2017)
•Very Low Population density
•Keene is the largest city and the commercial center
•Large institutions include:
•Cheshire Medical center
•Keene State College
•Wholesale grocery stores and other businesses
I go to school at Keene state college, which is located in the county of Cheshire, in the southwestern portion of the state. Perhaps some of you are familiar with this area, or may even live there currently.

3. Research Question
“Can Cheshire county meet its energy demands with the use of renewable energy sources? Is it feasible to use sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower, to heat and cool its homes, run manufacturing facilities, and business, and provide the area with electricity, as well as power an all-electric car system?”
Assume: upgrades to heat pumps for water heating and space heating/cooling

4. Justifications for the transition
Climate Change
NH has already seen 1.4 degree Celsius warming, extreme weather, ecosystem disruption,
Threats on public health (air pollution)
Latest IPCC Report says we need to be a zero carbon emissions before 2050 
We must decrease reliance on fossil fuels
Economic Benefits
There will be job losses – fossil-fuel dependent jobs
There will be job gains – solar installations, grid upgrades, electric car service
Public Health Benefits
Decrease in natural gas hazards
Fewer pollution-related premature deaths

5. 100% Renewable energy (RE) Background Across the United States
California is committed to 100% clean energy (includes nuclear and CCS)
Hawaii is committed to 100% RE
Cities and towns around the country are committing to 100% RE
Burlington Vermont has already reached this goal
Hanover, Plainfield, Cornish, Concord have all set the goal
Mark Jacobson (Stanford) Solutions Project
Wind Water Sun - WWS
Roadmap for every state to achieve 100% RE
But exactly what this means for specific places remains unclear – purpose of this project

6. The plan includes the majority of the energy coming from onshore wind I personally think that it should include more residential rooftop solar, as well as offshore wind due the fact that no clear cuts, or deforestation would need to take place. The expansive forests in the state is what draws in tourism, as well as makes it unique.
Don’t get lost in the details. Just emphasize that Jacobson is showing it CAN be done. THe looked at the economics and the availability of resources, but not the politics. NH will have to figure out the best way to reach 100%. THat’s not what I am doing. I am simply looking at Cheshire County and estimating the total amount of electric energy we will need, and estimating how many acreas of solar panels could meet that need.

7. Methodology Calculated Current Energy Production in Cheshire County
Wind, water, sun
Estimated Energy Demand of Cheshire County
Zero fossil fuels 
Electric Heat Pumps
Electric transportation
Data sources: US Census, EIA, NH State Government, ISO-NE
Extrapolated county data from state data when necessary

8. Results: Current RE energy production
Wind = 0
Water (assume 0.5 cf)
Three small hydro plants
Lower Robertson=0.84 MW
Ashuelot River= 0.87 MW
Minnewawa= 1 MW
Total Hydro Energy = MWh
Solar (assume 0.2 cf)
Mostly rooftop on private homes and commercial establishments
Residential 0.82 MW = MWh
Municipal 0.65 MW = MWh
Commercial 2 MW = 3504 MWh
Total Solar Energy = 6114 MWh
Total RE production= 20,989 MWh

9. Results - Demand Residential sector
Currently consuming 250 GWh electricity
But this includes some electric resistance (ER) space heating (6% of homes) and ER water heating (60% of homes). We need to subtract these, since those are wasteful technologies that will need to be replaced with heat pumps
Estimated demand for ER hot water = 102 GWh (60% homes)
Estimated demand for ER space heat = 82 GWh (6% homes)
Current demand (without ER hot water or space heating) = 65 GWh
New demand for all heat pump hot water = 48 GWh (100% homes)
New demand for all  heat pump heating = 374 GWh (100% homes)
Total future demand = 487 GWh  (an increase of +96%)

10. Results - Demand (work in Progress)
Commercial sector
Currently consuming 250 GWh electricity
Assume this include no space heating or resistance water heating – all space heating is gas or oil
Est. demand for heat pump space heat/cool = 136 GWh
Total demand = 386 GWh  (an increase of 55%)

11. Results - Demand (work in progress)
Industrial sector
Currently consuming 112 GWh electricity
Assume this include no space heating or resistance water heating – all space heating is gas or oil
Estimated demand for heat pump space  heat/cool = 227 GWh
Total demand = 338 GWh  (an increase of 103%)

12. Results - Demand Transportation sector – Personal vehicles
Currently consuming 86.3 tBtu gasoline = 25,400 GWh
Assume eVs are 5x more efficient
eV demand = 5,080 GWh (for entire state)
Cheshire County = 5.6% of state
Future Cheshire eV demand = 284 GWh

13. Results - Demand Transportation sector – Commercial vehicles (Diesel)
Current: 40 million gallons diesel in 2016 (Cheshire county)
Assume 6.5 mpg
261 million miles (Cheshire county)
Future eTruck 2 kWh/mile
Future Cheshire County demand for eTruck = 521 GWh
Gasoline consumption by state

14. Summary Demand of 100% electric Cheshire County Residential = 487 GWh
Transport = 806 GWh
Commercial = 386 GWh
Industrial = 227 GWh
Total = 1906 GWh
Production
Existing Renewable energy production is only
21 GWh (1% of demand)
Assume 325 MWh per acre
Number acres needed = 5864 acres
Area of Cheshire County = 466,500 acres
This is 1.26 % of Cheshire County
State energy consumption

15. This does not include industrial and commercial heating
Technology is continuously advancing…...

16. Purpose of this project
Advocate for New Hampshire to become more sustainable
Educate the Public On what would be necessary, and how this project would be possible
Curiosity.
Can I live in a future filled with no more greenhouse gas emitting power plants

17. Acknowledgements Thank you for all those who helped:
Pat Martin, Rindge Energy Committee
Briana Brand (NHSEA)
Adrian Pinney plumbing and heating
Karen Cramton, Director of the sustainability division of the Public Utilities Commission
Prof. Tim Allen (Keene State College)
Prof. Thomas Webler (Keene State College)