ISO-NE moderates panel for Connecticut Power and Energy Society legislative update, with focus on offshore wind

On June 11, ISO New England External Affairs Representative Kerry Schlichting moderated a panel for an end of session legislative update hosted by the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES). The event, hosted by Day Pitney LLP in Hartford, featured prominent Connecticut state lawmakers including Energy and Technology Committee Chairman Norm Needleman (D-Essex) Ranking Members Paul Formica (R- East Lyme) and Charlie Ferraro (R- West Haven). The panel was rounded out by James Albis, senior advisor to the commissioner at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

From L-R; Kerry Schlichting, James Albis, Norm Needleman, Charles Ferraro, Norm NeedlemanThe panel focused on energy-related provisions passed during the session including the offshore wind energy procurement bill. The legislation establishes a process for DEEP to solicit proposals from contractors and authorizes the state to purchase 2,000 megawatts of energy produced via offshore wind. ISO New England faces the challenge of the increasing complexities in operating the grid with a shifting resource mix; this project poses the prospect of a significant expansion to the region’s growing renewable resource capacity.