ISO-NE announces changes in System Planning leadership

ISO New England today announced the retirement of Dr. Robert Ethier, vice president of System Planning. Al McBride will succeed Ethier, beginning on August 1.

“Bob possesses a wide breadth of knowledge coupled with deep understanding of many aspects of the incredibly complex system we manage,” said Gordon van Welie, ISO New England’s president and CEO. “I consider myself—and the region—very fortunate to have benefitted from his leadership and dedication these many years.”

Ethier’s 24-year career with ISO New England has included senior leadership roles in power system planning, market administration and development, and market monitoring. In his current role, Ethier oversees ISO New England’s regional and interregional planning process, including development of the biennial Regional System Plan. He previously served as vice president of Market Operations and vice president of Market Development, and led the ISO’s efforts to implement the initial Forward Capacity Auction.

“New England couldn’t ask for someone better prepared to step into this position,” van Welie said. “Al’s expertise in transmission and interconnection will be invaluable as these issues are key to a successful clean energy future.”

McBride has 28 years of experience in power transmission system analysis and transmission services. He came to the ISO in 2006, most recently serving as executive director of Transmission Services. In that role, he has managed the ISO’s interconnection process for new generating facilities and elective transmission upgrades, the qualification of resources in the Forward Capacity Market, and the ISO’s network modeling group.

Prior to joining the ISO, McBride worked for two Houston-based power companies, Dynegy Inc. and Calpine Corporation, where he supported transmission initiatives associated with the development, interconnection, and commercial operation of merchant generation facilities. Prior to that, he worked at Power Technologies International (now a division of Siemens Industries) conducting transmission analysis studies.

McBride holds a master’s degree in electric power engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from University College Dublin.