Coalition Calls for Responsible Interregional Transmission Solutions in Letter to Northeast States
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2025
Contact:
Jennifer Delony, New England for Offshore Wind
jdelony@ne4osw.org, 603.320.7043
Coalition Calls for Responsible Interregional Transmission Solutions
in Letter to Northeast States
New England for Offshore Wind urged the Northeast States Collaborative to use existing corridors, ecosystem safeguards, cost fairness, and strong labor standards in interregional transmission planning
BOSTON – August 25, 2025 – New England for Offshore Wind (@NE4OSW) announced today that it has submitted a letter to the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission in response to its Request for Information (RFI) on interregional transmission projects. The coalition urged state leaders to advance responsible, coordinated approaches to building a clean energy grid that supports offshore wind, reliability, and affordability.
Erin Smith, Clean Grid Director at the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM), said:
“Offshore wind represents the region’s most significant opportunity to reduce emissions, while supporting economic growth for the region. We are encouraged by the Collaborative’s RFI, which creates an important pathway for developing an offshore grid backbone. Because offshore wind projects span three separate grid planning regions, interregional coordination is essential to maximize reliability and capture cost savings. This RFI process marks a critical first step toward achieving those outcomes under a durable and coordinated planning framework.”
The coalition praised the Collaborative for its leadership and pledged to continue working with Northeast states to ensure the development of a durable, equitable, and climate-ready electric grid.
Recommendations
- Use existing corridors first
- Protect communities and ecosystems
- Build smart, build together
- Support union jobs
- Tackle rising costs
- Identify and advance state policy levers
The coalition urged the Collaborative to make the most of existing infrastructure wherever possible. Projects should prioritize the use of grid-enhancing technologies (GETs), current rights-of-way, brownfield sites, and opportunities for co-location with highways or rail lines, thereby reducing the need for land conversion and its associated impacts.
Just as importantly, the coalition recommended development be carried out in ways that protect both people and the environment. That means avoiding or minimizing harm to historically disadvantaged communities, sensitive habitats, and endangered species, while relying on robust, science-based siting and long-term monitoring practices.
The coalition also called for smarter, more coordinated offshore grid design. Rather than pursuing isolated radial connections, future offshore wind projects should be developed with a meshed network approach, which would lower costs, increase efficiency, and reduce impacts to land and water resources.
Equally vital is the creation of high-quality jobs, the coalition said. Projects should be built with strong labor standards, registered apprenticeship opportunities, and commitments to domestic manufacturing that deliver economic benefits to local communities.
Finally, the coalition emphasized the importance of state policies to advance solutions identified through the RFI as a means to tackle the region’s rising transmission costs. By establishing fair cost-allocation frameworks and exploring state-level tools, such as voluntary funding and public financing, the Collaborative can ensure that transmission investments strengthen affordability for households and businesses while advancing the clean energy transition.
Resources
NE4OSW Letter RE: Request for Information (“RFI”) on State-Led Interregional Transmission Projects
– August 2025
NE4OSW Commends Planned Northeast Interregional Collaboration on Clean Energy Transmission
– June 2023
NE4OSW Applauds Next Steps in New England States’ Collaborative Transmission Initiative
– January 2023
NE4OSW Statement on Brattle Group Offshore Wind Transmission Study
– January 2023
NE4OSW Supports Networked Offshore Grid Plan, Emphasizes Need for Transparency, Engagement
– November 2022
Statement on New England States’ RFI on Offshore Wind Transmission
– September 2022
New England for Offshore Wind Coalition Announces Agreement on Transmission Principles
– September 2022
About New England for Offshore Wind
New England for Offshore Wind is a broad-based coalition of environmental organizations, labor unions, businesses and associations, and academic institutions committed to advancing responsible offshore wind for a healthy environment and thriving economy. Offshore wind is a game-changer for New England, with the potential to lower electricity costs, create tens of thousands of high-quality jobs, significantly reduce air pollution, and drive billions of dollars in annual economic output. Our coalition fosters regional collaboration, political will, community engagement, and public support to power New England’s future with clean, reliable, affordable, American energy. For more information, visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
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