The team from Freedom Energy had the opportunity to visit the ISO New England Headquarters in Holyoke, MA, gaining valuable insights into the operations and strategic goals of the organization that oversees the New England power system. Established in 1997 after separating from NEPEX and NEPLAN, ISO New England serves as the grand central station for the region’s electric power system.

Mission and Vision

ISO New England’s mission is to harness the power of competition and advanced technologies to reliably plan and operate the grid as the region transitions to clean energy. The organization is dedicated to planning the transmission system, administering the region’s wholesale markets, and operating the power system to ensure reliable and competitively priced wholesale electricity.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

ISO New England performs three critical roles: grid operation, market administration, and power system planning. The organization coordinates and directs the flow of electricity over the region’s high-voltage transmission system, designs and oversees the markets where wholesale electricity is bought and sold, and studies and plans to meet New England’s electricity needs over the next decade. Additionally, ISO New England is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and serves as the Reliability Coordinator for New England under the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). The organization maintains independence from companies in the marketplace and remains neutral on technology.

Power Grid and Market Dynamics

The New England power grid comprises 9,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and 13 transmission interconnections to power systems in New York and Eastern Canada. Significant investments have been made to strengthen the transmission system’s reliability, with $12 billion invested since 2002 and an additional $1.4 billion planned.

Future Outlook

The region is shifting from coal and oil to natural gas and renewable energy sources. ISO New England’s vision for the future includes significant amounts of clean energy to meet state decarbonization goals, robust transmission infrastructure to integrate renewable resources, and a dependable energy supply chain to manage through extended periods of severe weather or energy supply constraints.

Upcoming Projects and Initiatives

ISO New England is actively working on several key projects and initiatives to support the region’s energy transition. These include:

• Elective Transmission Upgrades (ETUs): Developers are proposing eight ETUs to help deliver over 13,000 MW of clean energy to New England load centers. These ETUs include large-scale transmission projects designed to facilitate the delivery of clean energy, particularly from wind projects. About 40% of the new resource proposals in the ISO Queue are wind projects, with most being offshore wind proposals in southern New England and some onshore wind proposals in northern New England.
• Energy Storage Solutions: Energy storage has a long history of providing services to the regional electric grid. Currently, about 100 MW of batteries are dispatchable by ISO New England, with many more proposed. The ISO is integrating more energy storage solutions, including batteries and pumped-storage hydro facilities, to enhance grid reliability and support renewable energy integration. Two pumped-storage hydro facilities have operated in New England since the 1970s, capable of supplying up to 1,800 MW of power within 10 minutes for up to 7 hours.
• Renewable Energy Projects: The ISO Generator Interconnection Queue reflects a dramatic shift towards renewable energy, with significant proposals for wind and solar projects.
• Regional System Plan (RSP): The ISO continuously updates its RSP to address future system needs over a ten-year planning horizon, ensuring the region’s power system remains reliable and resilient.

Environmental Impact and Emissions Reductions

Emissions from regional generators have significantly decreased since 2001, with reductions of 36% in carbon dioxide (CO2), 57% in nitrogen oxide (NOx), and 96% in sulfur dioxide (SO2). This highlights the region’s progress towards cleaner energy.

Guides and Presenters

Throughout the tour, the team was guided by Eric Johnson, Executive Director of External Affairs, and Nathan Raike, Associate State Policy Analyst for New Hampshire. Additionally, Steven Gould, Director Operations, and Tim Peet, of Participant Support, provided valuable insights and support during the visit.

Training and Development

The visit to ISO New England Headquarters was integral to the training and development of the Freedom Energy team and organized by the dedicated members of Freedom’s Sustainability Committee. Understanding the complexities of managing a regional power grid and the ongoing efforts to transition to a cleaner energy future is crucial for the team’s strategic planning and operations. The knowledge gained from this visit will enhance the team’s ability to navigate the evolving energy landscape and contribute to Freedom Energy’s mission of providing reliable and sustainable energy solutions.

Conclusion

The visit to ISO New England Headquarters provided the Freedom Energy team with a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in managing a regional power grid and the ongoing efforts to transition to a cleaner energy future. The insights gained will undoubtedly contribute to Freedom Energy’s strategic planning and operations.