September 29, 2021

U.S. Sen. Angus King to keynote public forum on ISO-NE’s 2021 Regional System Plan

Panel discussion to focus on preparing power grid for extreme weather

United States Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at a public forum on the 2021 Regional System Plan (RSP) on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. Registration is now open for the virtual event, which begins at 12:15 p.m. Registrants will need an ISO-TEN account to sign up for the event, which is free and open to the public.

A member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, Sen. King has advocated for policies that contribute to clean, affordable energy and mitigate climate change. As a founding member of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, Sen. King is working to build consensus on impactful climate policy. In his private sector career, Sen. King was involved in the development of a variety of energy projects, including wind, hydroelectric, and biomass resources.

In addition to Sen. King’s keynote and an overview presentation on the draft 2021 RSP, a panel discussion will focus on how to maintain a reliable electric system in a time when extreme weather is occurring more often and in all regions of the country. The panel will discuss how to best prepare a power system that is more reliant on limited-energy and variable resources for the greater uncertainty and increasingly severe weather events brought on by climate change.

Moderated by former ISO New England Board Member Phil Shapiro, the panel will feature:

Jim Robb, CEO, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
Bill Magness, former CEO, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
Charlotte Ancel, vice president, Regulatory Strategy, Avangrid
Debra Lew, associate director, Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG)

The RSP is a biennial report that lays the foundation for long-term power-system planning in New England. The comprehensive report details power system needs for the next 10 years and how these needs can be addressed.

ISO New England develops the RSP through a collaborative process with New England state regulators and policymakers, companies doing business in the region’s wholesale electricity marketplace, consumer organizations, and other stakeholders.