ISO-NE CEO’s keynote highlights importance of collaboration during clean energy transition
The importance of coordination among stakeholders to address challenges in the energy industry was the focus of ISO New England President and CEO Gordon van Welie’s keynote address at the recent Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG) Fall Technical Workshop in Providence, Rhode Island.
In his remarks, van Welie highlighted several of the ISO’s recent and ongoing projects as collaborative accomplishments in the clean energy transition. These include the Economic Planning for the Clean Energy Transition (EPCET) study, the 2050 Transmission Study, and the development of a Regional Energy Shortfall Threshold (REST).
His address also outlined the ISO’s four pillars for a reliable, cost-effective transition: significant amounts of clean energy, balancing resources to ensure reliability, energy adequacy, and robust transmission. He also spoke to the challenges of coordinating the clean energy transition across multiple jurisdictions, noting, “There is no central planner in New England making these decisions.” He emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration to maintain New England’s high standard of electric system reliability while making progress toward state policy goals.
Assistant General Counsel Monica Gonzalez also discussed the importance of collaboration with the New England states and a robust stakeholder process. “The states are in the driver’s seat, and we are the consultants,” Gonzalez said in a panel presentation comparing the ISO’s longer-term transmission planning process (LTTP) with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order No. 1920. Both LTTP and the FERC order build on current planning procedures to look further into the future when considering transmission improvements.
Continuing the theme of collaboration, Stephen George—the ISO’s director of Operational Performance, Training, and Integration—highlighted the need for coordination between gas and electric utilities in New England. During his panel address, George discussed the role natural gas will play as a fuel source for balancing resources as the region incorporates more renewable generation.
ESIG is a nonprofit organization that marshals the expertise of the electricity industry’s technical community to support grid transformation and energy systems integration. ESIG’s annual technical workshop convenes hundreds of industry experts to share knowledge on challenges facing the energy industry.
