September speaker roundup: ISO-NE staff discuss the future of the electric grid 

Collaboration, expertise, and innovation are three of ISO New England’s core values. Staff embody these values by presenting their work at electricity industry conferences and events around the region, the country, and the world. Here’s a selection of their September speaking engagements. 

Al McBride, vice president, System Planning, presented at the New England Energy Roundtable in Boston on Sept. 18. As part of a panel discussion, he described how New England’s transmission investments and ISO New England’s proposed Asset Condition Reviewer role can enhance oversight of transmission infrastructure projects, support grid reliability, improve cost-effectiveness, and provide greater transparency for states, stakeholders, and communities. 

Eric Johnson, executive director, External Affairs, presented a regional update at the 2026 New Hampshire Energy Summit in Concord on Sept. 28, highlighting ISO-NE’s role in operating the power grid, administering wholesale electricity markets, and planning for the region’s energy future. 

Johnson spoke on a panel at the New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC) in White Plains on Sept. 29, discussing how utilities and grid operators are expanding and modernizing energy infrastructure, and maintaining reliability and affordability while ensuring the power system can meet future demand and support regional investment and job creation.  

Johnson also spoke at the National Governors’ Association Nuclear Policy Summit in Lowell, Massachusetts, on Sept. 30. He discussed the role of nuclear generation in supporting New England’s grid reliability, meeting energy needs with carbon-free electricity, and helping balance the region’s future clean energy, economic, and reliability objectives.   

Michael Courchesne, principal compliance analyst, Legal and Compliance, presented at the Archer Technologies Summit in Orlando, Florida, on Sept. 15. He discussed how compliance automation tools support grid reliability by streamlining regulatory compliance, improving accountability and transparency, reducing risk, and enhancing audit readiness through standardized workflows and centralized data management.