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 
 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
 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
 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