Healey-Driscoll Administration Leads Multi-State Request for Federal Support to Establish Interregional Transmission Planning Collaborative

 Healey-Driscoll Administration Leads Multi-State Request for Federal Support to Establish Interregional Transmission Planning Collaborative 

Novel Approach Would Leverage U.S. Department of Energy Expertise to Explore Increased Transmission Ties Between Northeast Regions Including Development of Offshore Wind Infrastructure

 

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) a request on behalf of all the New England states, New York, and New Jersey to form a Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission, a new approach to planning for electric transmission infrastructure across multiple regions. Under the proposed structure, DOE would lead the states in planning activities that may include investigating opportunities for mutually beneficial options for increasing the flow of electricity between three different planning regions in the Northeast and assessing offshore wind infrastructure needs and solutions. Greater interconnectivity between regions lowers prices for consumers through a larger marketplace for low-cost clean energy generation, bolsters reliability during periods of extreme weather and system stress, and increases access to renewable energy to meet decarbonization requirements.   

"One of our first actions upon taking office was to create a team focused solely on regional and federal collaboration on energy issues. Already, we’re strengthening our connections with our neighboring states to deliver cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable energy to Massachusetts residents,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper, who led the letter. “The Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission represents how the Healey-Driscoll Administration is looking to pursue innovative new approaches to accelerating our clean energy transition. We’re grateful to our neighboring states and regions for joining together to propose this concept.” 

“The U.S. Department of Energy is uniquely positioned to bring states together on interregional transmission planning, and we look forward to exploring opportunities to benefit all of our states through this historic infrastructure partnership,” said Jason Marshall, EEA Deputy Secretary for Federal and Regional Energy Affairs. “Massachusetts shares an energy grid within New England but is also part of a larger electrical network with states across the eastern United States. Working together to explore how to strengthen the ties between our regions makes sense. A more robust grid enhances system reliability, flows cheaper power, and helps accelerate our clean energy transition.” 

 

The Commonwealth’s Clean Energy and Climate Plans calls for a modernized and expanded transmission system to achieve our state’s transition to a clean energy future. This includes increasing the transmission capacity between Massachusetts and neighboring regions. The establishment of a Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission, supported by DOE funding and technical expertise, would be a critical step toward unlocking and sharing in the clean energy potential that exists beyond each state’s borders and off our shared coastline. The letter is signed by Massachusetts and seven other states: Connecticut, Maine New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

In February, Secretary Tepper established the first-ever Office of Federal and Regional Energy Affairs within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. She appointed Jason Marshall to serve as Deputy Secretary and Special Counsel for Federal and Regional Energy Affairs and Mary Louise "Weezie" Nuara to serve as Assistant Secretary for Federal and Regional Energy Affairs. The positions promote regional cooperation and advocate for advancing the Commonwealth’s clean energy transition with federal, state, and other stakeholders.