AI, energy storage, and more: ISO-NE staff share expertise at October events

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 October speaking engagements.

Chris Geissler, director of Economic Analysis, Market Development, discussed the Capacity Auction Reforms key project at the Northeast Energy and Commerce Association Fuels Conference in Boston on Oct. 1. He highlighted efforts to modernize the capacity market through seasonal resource accreditation and incentives that support resource performance and winter reliability.

Xiaochuan Luo, director of Power System Technology, Advanced Technology Solutions, took part in the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in the Electricity System workshop hosted by the National Academies in Washington on Oct. 26. He was part of a panel titled “AI in Markets, Operations and Data Centers through a Cyber-Physical Security Lens.”

Parviz Alivand, principal economist and manager of Market Design, Market Development, took part in the Nodal Trader Conference in Washington on Oct. 22. He was part of a panel titled “Changing Market Dynamics and New Nodal Models,” where he discussed Capacity Auction Reforms, the Day-Ahead Ancillary Services market, and strategies for relieving congestion on the transmission system.

Steven Judd, manager of Long-Term Planning, System Planning, and Melissa Winne, lead state policy advisor, External Affairs, led a webinar on Oct. 1 to provide an overview of ISO New England’s longer-term transmission planning (LTTP) process and 2025 LTTP request for proposals.

Winne also presented on LTTP topics at the E2Tech Forum in South Portland, Maine, on Oct. 13.

Matt Kakley, manager of Media Relations and Strategic Communications, Corporate Communications, spoke at the Connecticut Power and Energy Society’s Future of Energy conference on Oct. 29 in Fairfield. He was part of a panel titled “The Business of Communicating Energy in 2026.” Kakley discussed the ISO’s unique role in New England and how it communicates technical information to help the public understand the challenges facing our future energy landscape.

Steven Otto, manager of Economic Analysis, Market Development, spoke on Oct. 26 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at an event titled “Launching Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) in Massachusetts: Storing Energy Today for a More Resilient Tomorrow.” He was part of a panel focused on the role of LDES in advancing the affordability and reliability of electricity.

Two members of the External Affairs team, Kerry Schlichting, manager of State Policy, and Sarah Adams, senior state policy advisor, External Affairs, hosted virtual office hours on Oct. 23. The event was designed for a non-technical audience to learn about ISO New England.

Adams presented on the region’s transition to a new generator interconnection framework at the REV Conference in South Burlington, Vermont, on Oct. 14. She discussed reforms that streamline the interconnection process, improve project readiness requirements, and support the efficient integration of new energy resources onto the grid.

On Oct. 28, Adams provided a regional update at the Vermont System Planning Committee quarterly meeting in Killington. She covered market conditions, the ISO’s 2027 priorities, transmission planning initiatives, large load integration, and generator interconnection reforms.

Adams and Ruben Flores-Marzan, policy advisor for environmental and community affairs, External Affairs, presented at the Southern New England American Planning Association Conference in Mashantucket, Connecticut, on Oct. 8. They discussed how local land-use decisions shape the region’s electricity future, highlighting the connection between community planning decisions, electricity demand growth, and the region’s evolving grid and transmission needs.

Graham Jesmer, senior regulatory counsel, Legal and Compliance, presented on ISO-NE’s approach to dispatching distributed energy resource aggregations during the “Curtailment Problems and Solutions” panel at the Special Institute on Meeting the Demand conference in Denver, Colorado, on Oct. 8.