ISO-NE launches economic study page

ISO New England has launched a new landing page for completed economic studies and supporting documentation.

Each year, the ISO solicits economic study requests from stakeholders interested in analyzing hypothetical future grid scenarios. Though these hypothetical, alternative systems should not be regarded as physically realizable plans or the ISO’s vision of realistic future development, projections, and preferences, they can assist stakeholders by identifying key regional issues.

In 2020, the ISO completed a pair of studies related to increasing levels of offshore wind, one requested by the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) looking at up to 8,000 megawatts (MW) of development, and another, requested by Anbaric Development Partners, looking at between 8,000 and 12,000 MW of development. A third study looked at the effectiveness of transmission upgrades to increase production from constrained onshore renewable energy in Maine, requested by RENEW Northeast.

The landing page includes the completed and draft versions of the studies, as well as materials from Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings in which the studies were discussed, and other supporting documentation.