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Concord Steam To Shut Down, Offer Natural Gas Transition To Customers

Concord Steam has been in operation since 1938. Originally it was the heat plant for the State Hospital, but now it heats and powers parts of the downtown.
Sam Evans-Brown
Concord Steam has been in operation since 1938. Originally it was the heat plant for the State Hospital, but now it heats and powers parts of the downtown.

  The utility that provides steam heat for the New Hampshire Statehouse and a number of other state government facilities is shutting down. 

Concord Steam announced Thursday it would wind down operations by May of next year and offer its customers a transition to natural gas supplied by Liberty Utilities. 

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we are unable to see a future in which we can continue operations,” said Peter Bloomfield, president of Concord Steam.

The company's customer base has declined in recent years, as its rates have gone up and the state has investigated fire and safety code violations at its wood-burning plant.

One of its biggest clients, Merrimack County government, recently announced a switch to natural gas.

The state government and the city of Concord have been investigating alternatives as well.

The Concord Monitor reports Liberty Utilities would also acquire Concord Steam for $1.9 million, under a deal that would require approval from the Public Utilities Commission. 

Concord Steam began operations in 1938. Its current plant has been in operation since 1980. 

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