Massachusetts and Northeast Partners Issue Strategic Action Plan to Explore Cost-Saving Transmission

BOSTON — BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today joined eight Northeast states in issuing a strategic action plan that identifies specific steps that state, regional, and federal policymakers can take to pursue interregional transmission solutions to reduce costs for consumers and make our energy systems more secure. The plan outlines a range of actions over the next several years to improve interregional transmission planning processes across three different grid planning regions in the Northeast. Key near-term actions include issuance of a Request for Information (“RFI”) for potential interregional transmission projects that provide reliability benefits and cost savings for consumers. The plan also identifies transmission equipment standardization efforts to support a unified and comprehensive approach to transmission investments.  

“Regional and interregional collaboration will help get more affordable electricity to customers throughout the region,” said Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “We are proud to partner with Northeast states in issuing this strategic action plan which will help us explore cost-effective transmission solutions to deliver savings to businesses and residents in the Northeast.” 

“We know that interregional transmission offers broad consumer benefits, but we lack current mechanisms to pursue these projects,” said Jason Marshall, Massachusetts Deputy Secretary for Federal and Regional Energy Affairs. “This innovative collaboration among states helps to address transmission planning gaps and advance interregional transmission solutions that increase access to lower-cost energy and bolster reliability.” 

In 2023, Massachusetts led a request to the U.S. Department of Energy to convene a multi-state group – called the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission – in a first-in-the-nation effort to explore mutually beneficial opportunities to increase the flow of electricity between the ISO New England, New York ISO, and PJM Interconnection planning regions. 

The Collaborative includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Last summer, the multi-state group signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework for coordinating its activities and identified this strategic action plan as a critical next step. 

Since that time, the Collaborative has engaged relevant federal agencies and organizations with technical expertise to identify and assess shared areas of focus for interregional transmission cooperation and coordination. Issuance of the strategic action plan is a key milestone for the Collaborative as it seeks to remove regulatory and technical barriers to greater interregional transmission planning and engagement for the benefit of consumers and grid reliability.  

The Collaborative will host a webinar tomorrow, Tuesday, April 29 at 10 a.m. to discuss the strategic action plan’s near-term and mid-term focus areas. Registration information is available here.  

“Working together is essential to building a more affordable and reliable power grid that meets Connecticut’s energy, economic, and environmental needs,” said Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Through this first-of-its-kind strategic action plan, we are partnering with other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to identify transmission solutions. This work will help us bring online cleaner, more efficient, and more competitive power supply alternatives for our state and region.”  

“Working together with eight other states to conduct transmission planning will help unlock more affordable, reliable energy for Maine and the Northeast,” said Dan Burgess, Director of the Maine Governor’s Energy Office. “Strategic planning initiatives like this one underscore the value of coordination in advancing a modern electrical grid that can meet our needs today and into the future.” 

“Not having to build new power plants saves Marylanders money. Increased interregional transmission capacity can reduce the need for power plants that exist solely to meet peak demand, which are typically fossil-fueled, and provide congestion cost savings,” said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. “This collaboration illustrates exactly why state-led climate action is so important to achieving our energy, environmental, and economic goals.” 

“New Jersey is proud to work with our partners throughout the Northeast to identify and mobilize around transmission solutions to reduce costs for ratepayers and bolster reliability,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “As we take a comprehensive look at opportunities to secure short and long-term ratepayer savings, all options are on the table and this strategic action plan will help us explore transmission solutions that deliver savings and reliability benefits for millions of residents and businesses.” 

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “New York is looking forward to working with our partners to maximize transmission opportunities as part of this first-of-its kind collaboration in the Northeast. Together, we can strategically identify options that help reduce energy costs while bolstering grid reliability and delivering additional clean energy to all New Yorkers.”  

New York State Department of Public Service CEO Rory M. Christian said, “Collaboration and cooperation will help get more affordable electricity to customers throughout this economically vital part of the United States. This innovative plan will give our region the opportunity to investigate and assess key interregional transmission options that have the potential to make the electric grid more efficient and improve reliability for everyone in the region while reducing costs for ratepayers. Given the importance of this work, we are proud to partner with other states in the Northeast to explore cost-effective transmission solutions to deliver savings and promote affordable electric service to regional residents and businesses.” 

“Improving interregional transmission efforts is essential to lowering long-term energy costs, enhancing system reliability, and meeting our respective states long-term energy goals,” said Acting Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources Commissioner Chris Kearns. “Rhode Island is proud to join our Northeast partners in advancing this strategic action plan, which reflects our shared commitment to modernizing the grid and ensuring a more affordable and resilient energy future.” 

“States across the Northeast share a common priority to ensure an affordable, reliable and sustainable electric grid”, said Vermont’s Department of Public Service Commissioner Kerrick Johnson. “Transmission is at the heart of securing that energy future, and this Strategic Action Plan charts the course on how to make that happen. The Plan complements New England’s Longer-Term Transmission Planning initiative and Vermont’s successful push for instate renewable generation. We are both proud and grateful to join with our sister states to undertake this collaborative and critical work.”