NE4OSW Applauds Grid Operators’ Support for Northeast Interregional Collaboration on Clean Energy Transmission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 30, 2023 
Contact:  
Jennifer Delony, New England for Offshore Wind 
jdelony@ne4osw.org, 603.320.7043

NE4OSW Applauds Grid Operators’ Support for Northeast Interregional Collaboration on Clean Energy Transmission 

BOSTON – June 30, 2023 – New England for Offshore Wind (@NE4OSW) today applauded ISO New England (ISO-NE), New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) and PJM Interconnection for their June 27 letter to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in support of the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission. 

“We are delighted by the grid operators’ letter of support for the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission. Their ongoing approach to collaboration on transmission planning, together with the states’ work with DOE will ensure the Northeast leverages shared offshore wind resources to reduce carbon emissions, increase grid reliability, and reduce energy costs and impacts to the environment,” said Susannah Hatch, New England for Offshore Wind Regional Lead. 

“Support from the three regional transmission operators serving New England, NY and NJ is critical to achieving the states’ goals for the Collaborative on Interregional Transmission and unlocking reliable, clean, and affordable energy for all communities,” said Veronica Ung-Kono, Staff Attorney and Clean Energy Transmission Policy Specialist at National Wildlife Federation. 

The coordinated transmission planning of ISO-NE, NYISO and PJM and their open support for the Collaborative on Interregional Transmission will ensure the states and DOE have much needed resources for accelerating the clean energy transition, increasing grid reliability and reducing energy costs,” said Kat Burnham, Sr. Principal at Advanced Energy United. 

The states’ collaborative plan is in line with The Brattle Group’s study this year on the Benefit and Urgency of Planned Offshore Transmission. The report makes an urgent call for collaborative, regional offshore wind transmission planning and deployment that could save billions in transmission-related costs, significantly reduce effects on marine habitats and wildlife, avoid interconnection delays, reduce onshore impacts to communities, and spur investment in the local clean energy economy. 

Background 

In November 2022, New England for Offshore Wind submitted comments for a Request for Information issued by the New England States for the Regional Energy Transmission Infrastructure Initiative 

The coalition urged the states to jointly move forward with plans for a networked offshore grid to save money, avoid unnecessary impacts, and improve the reliability and resilience of the electric grid while unlocking the region’s full potential for wind power. The coalition further urged the states to make transparency and community engagement a central feature of all grid planning, including the next steps to develop a networked offshore grid. 

About New England for Offshore Wind 

New England for Offshore Wind (www.NewEnglandforOffshoreWind.org) is a broad-based coalition of businesses and associations, environmental and justice organizations, academic institutions, and labor unions committed to combatting climate change by increasing the supply of clean energy to our regional grid through more procurements of responsibly developed offshore wind. We believe that responsibly developed offshore wind is the single biggest lever we can pull to address the climate crisis while also strengthening our regional economy, protecting ratepayers, creating high quality jobs, and improving public health by reducing pollution.