May 5, 2023

First CLG meeting of 2023 features panel on clean energy transition and a new Coordinating Committee; video available

*ISO-NE Vice President Robert Ethier delivers a presentation during the meeting.*

The first Consumer Liaison Group (CLG) meeting of 2023 featured a panel discussion on New England’s clean energy transition and an update from ISO New England on regional energy issues and initiatives, as well as extensive question-and-answer sessions with in-person and online attendees. A video recording and summary of the March 30 meeting, held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, are available online.

The meeting was the first for several new members of the CLG Coordinating Committee (CLGCC) elected in November. It was also the first meeting for newly elected committee Chair Liz Anderson, deputy chief of the Energy & Telecommunications Division at the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General. Anderson succeeds Elizabeth Mahony, who ended her term on the committee following her appointment as commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Mahony offered welcoming remarks, followed by New Hampshire committee members Kendra Ford and August Fromuth.

*Ford and Fromuth offer welcoming remarks.*

*Committee members introduce themselves. From left to right are Sonja Birthisel, Don Kreis, Jacob Powsner, August Fromuth, Bill Dornbos, Ian McDonald, Nathan Phillips, Regine Spector, and Liz Anderson.*

Panel discussion and regional update

New Hampshire Consumer Advocate and CLGCC member Don Kreis moderated the panel discussion. The panelists were New Hampshire state Rep. Michael Harrington; Sam Evans-Brown, executive director of Clean Energy New Hampshire; Susan Muller, a senior energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists; Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association; and Robert Ethier, ISO New England’s vice president of System Planning.

Each panelist offered opening remarks or a short presentation.

Ethier answers a question during a panel discussion.

In a slide deck titled “ISO New England’s Role in the Clean Energy Transition,” Ethier outlined the ISO’s work on studies and key projects—such as the Future Grid Reliability Study and the Resource Capacity Accreditation project—that are helping to facilitate the transition. Ethier pointed to other efforts as well, such as the technical expertise the ISO provides to the New England states, the organization’s work on mechanisms to enable transmission development, and its support for the integration of distributed energy resources.

The panelists fielded audience questions on topics ranging from transmission projects to costs of the clean energy transition.

*From left, panelists Sam Evans-Brown, Dan Dolan, Robert Ethier, Susan Muller, Michael Harrington, and moderator Don Kreis.*

*Audience members participate in the panel’s question-and-answer period.*

Anne George, the ISO’s vice president, Chief External Affairs and Communications Officer, provided the regional update. George’s presentation included information about the results of the 17th Forward Capacity Auction held on March 6, as well as an overview of winter 2022/2023 operations.

The CLG is a forum for sharing information between the ISO and electricity consumers in New England. The group meets quarterly, and the next meeting will be held in June.