ISO-NE chief addresses US House energy committee

The region’s energy outlook is generally favorable, though challenges lie ahead, ISO New England President and CEO Gordon van Welie told members of Congress this week.

In written and oral testimony, van Welie described the region’s current energy situation and outlook, noting its changing resource mix, projected demand growth, and potential impacts for reliability and the wholesale markets.

The March 25 hearing, held in Washington by the Subcommittee on Energy of the US House Committee on Energy and Commerce, was titled “Keeping the Lights On: Examining the State of Regional Grid Reliability.”

“As demand for electricity in New England grows, the region will need new resources to meet resource adequacy needs,” van Welie said. “It will be critical to ensure that we have a policy and regulatory framework in place that will allow for the entry of those resources.”

A video of the hearing and van Welie’s written testimony are available on the energy subcommittee’s website.