DPU Creates Division of Clean Energy and Resilience Engineering

 DPU Creates Division of Clean Energy and Resilience Engineering

The new division will enhance the DPU’s role in ensuring a safe and reliable clean energy transition

 
BOSTON — The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) today announced a new division to coordinate integrated energy planning. This is a crucial component of the state’s clean energy transition that directs energy to areas where they are needed the most. The Clean Energy and Resilience Engineering (CERE) Division will focus on Massachusetts’ shift away from natural gas to electric alternatives and evaluate plans for grid resilience, reinforcing the state’s decarbonization goals.

Massachusetts joins several states that have established a specific division dedicated to ensuring grid resilience and reliability while also promoting affordable clean energy resources as alternatives to fossil fuel infrastructure.  

The CERE Division will be led by its new director, Brian Ritzinger, who has over 26 years of experience. He previously served as Lead Engineer in the Electric Power Division and technical advisor to the Distributed Generation and Clean Energy Ombudsperson Office at the DPU. Ritzinger brings extensive knowledge of the dynamics of the current electrical system, having served as the key lead in preparing and responding to emergency events, major service disruptions, and maintaining grid cybersecurity. Ritzinger also comes to the position with expertise in the opportunities and challenges of the rapidly evolving energy sector and will lead a team of engineers focused on energy resilience planning, grid modernization, and the integration of clean energy resources on the grid. 

“The energy sector in Massachusetts is evolving,” said Chair James Van Nostrand. “Our new CERE Division guarantees we can successfully execute both the day-to-day work for system reliability and the important policy planning to prepare for the transformation of our electric grid.”  

“Engineering expertise is critical to plan our transition away from fossil fuels,” said Commissioner Cecile Fraser. “The CERE Division will play a key role in the Commonwealth’s clean energy transition while ensuring the grid is operating safely and reliably while maintaining a cost-effective approach.” 

“We’re focused on increasing resiliency while maintaining an equitable clean energy transition,” said Commissioner Staci Rubin. “The CERE Division will guide the joint efforts between the electric and gas utilities as we work towards the commitment of utilizing clean energy options.”  

The energy landscape in Massachusetts is shifting away from fossil fuels under the DPU’s direction. In the winter of 2023, the DPU issued a groundbreaking order in the Future of Gas docket (#20-80) that set a new regulatory strategy guiding the evolution of the natural gas distribution industry to clean energy. Two key components of this strategy will be handled by the CERE Division: the evaluation of non-gas pipeline alternatives and integrated energy planning. Gas companies operating in Massachusetts must consider viable alternatives to installing new natural gas infrastructure in the state, which includes an array of electrification options. Integrated energy planning involves coordination between the state’s electric and gas utilities to evaluate opportunities for communities that rely on natural gas to be converted to electric options, such as replacing gas boilers and furnaces with heat pumps or converting to networked geothermal technology. As required by the order in docket 20-80, the state’s six gas utilities must propose at least one project in their service area that will replace natural gas heating with targeted electrification. The gas utilities must file these decommissioning plans by March 2026.  

Additionally, the CERE Division will also oversee the planning and approval of electric grid investments that improve resilience. The Electric Sector Modernization Plans (ESMPs) require the state’s electric utilities—Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil— to plan investments that improve grid resilience and prepare for future climate-driven impacts on their systems. The DPU approved the ESMPs last summer as strategic roadmaps to accelerate the state’s ability to decarbonize safely, equitably, and efficiently while maintaining lowest possible costs to consumers. The new Division will be involved in evaluating these resiliency investments as the electric utilities develop their plans further and engage in discussions with regional and federal officials to maintain a safe, reliable and affordable electric grid.  

The CERE Division will continue to monitor and respond to emergency events and major service disruptions including storm events, as well as investigate these events for safety.