Power grid solutions needed: Worcester Business Journal publishes opinion piece by ISO-NE CEO

An opinion piece by Gordon van Welie, president and CEO of ISO New England, appeared in the February 5 edition of the Worcester Business Journal. “Power grid solutions needed to avoid blackouts” discussed how New England’s power system managed during the recent cold snap, which saw bitter cold temperatures coupled with snowstorms. Though the ISO managed the power system reliably, the conditions drove up wholesale electricity prices, left the region at risk if a major power plant or transmission line went down, and highlighted a growing concern regarding fuel security. In the oped, van Welie discusses the ISO’s recently-released Operational Fuel-Security Analysis, which quantifies the risks posed to the regional grid when natural gas power plants – which produce nearly half of the electricity in New England – have difficulty accessing fuel.