Five New England States Announce New Regional Energy Transmission Infrastructure Initiative – Request for Information to Integrate Clean Energy Resources
January 27, 2023 Update: In response to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Funding Opportunity Announcement discussed below, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, with support from New Hampshire and Vermont, recently submitted a concept paper to DOE regarding a Joint State Innovation Partnership for Offshore Wind. The concept paper is available here:
December 16, 2022 Update: On November 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Grid Innovation Program (GIP), which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), signed by President Biden on November 15, 2021. The GIP, which is outlined in Section 40103(b) of the BIL, is intended to fund projects that improve grid reliability and resilience using advanced technologies and innovative partnerships and approaches. States are eligible to apply for GIP funding.
The following states have requested notices of interest and draft concept papers from developers interested in proposing projects, including projects related to the New England states’ Regional Transmission Initiative, for states to consider as part of a GIP funding application. Please see the individual states’ notices for further details. Notices from other states may also be posted here as they are issued.
• Massachusetts (responses due December 22 by 5 p.m.)
• Connecticut (responses due December 23 by 5 p.m.)
• Rhode Island (responses due December 28 by 5 p.m.)
• Maine (responses due December 30 by 5 p.m.)
Regional Transmission Request for Information
On September 1, 2022, 5 New England States (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island) announced a joint initiative to explore investment in electric transmission infrastructure needed to better integrate clean energy resources such as, but not limited to, offshore wind, while improving the reliability, resilience, and affordability of the grid for the regions’ electricity customers.
The States are releasing a joint Request for Information seeking comment on an initiative to integrate offshore wind and other resources in a cost-effective, reliable and efficient manner—including opportunities to leverage federal funding for New England transmission investments under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Having a clean, affordable, reliable regional electricity grid – supported by transparent decision-making processes and a transmission system that reliably accommodates duly enacted clean energy laws – is foundational to achieving our clean energy future. An integrated, reliable, and resilient, transmission system that will achieve the various New England states’ decarbonization targets, at least cost, and in a manner responsive to our state policies and the needs of our consumers.
The States announced that they will issue a joint Request for Information outlining a conceptual framework for a modular offshore wind integration plan and seeking comments both on this plan and other infrastructure upgrades that will anticipate and meet consumer needs at least cost. To advance this initiative, the participating state agencies will convene a technical meeting open and accessible to the public to be held on a date to be determined. Through this technical conference, the participating agencies will solicit comments and dialogue with all interested stakeholders on the modular offshore wind integration plan and a path to achieving it. Major areas of focus for stakeholder dialogue will include: most effective points of interconnection for offshore wind, how to minimize land-based transmission upgrades that have traditionally been sited in overburdened and underserved communities, the design and implementation of high voltage direct current (HVDC) systems to provide the most efficient system structure, how to co-optimize transmission infrastructure to provide maximum consumer benefits, and how to reduce overall system cost and consumer impact.
Comments are due by 4:00 p.m. on October 28, 2022. The information gathered through this RFI will inform States’ decisions on whether to take further steps to procure or facilitate transmission investment, will assist States’ planning activities, and further inform State efforts to secure federal funding, including under IIJA, and otherwise support investment in infrastructure.
To submit your comments or questions, please email: transmission@newenglandenergyvision.com
Technical Meeting
The States held a Technical Meeting on October 7, 2022 at 10 a.m. Please view the Notice of Technical Meeting for more information. Download the agenda here. View a recording of the Technical Meeting here. Presentations from the Technical Meeting can be accessed below:
Anbaric
DOE1
DOE: BIL and IRA Program and Opportunities
DNV
Eversource
LS Power
National Grid
State of CT
State of Maine
VEIR
VELCO
RFI Comments
New England Energy Vision 