The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York State Department of Public Service on April 28 joined eight Northeast states in issuing a strategic action plan “that identifies specific steps that state and federal policymakers and regional transmission organizations can take to pursue interregional transmission solutions to reduce costs for consumers and make our energy systems more secure,” the New York agencies said.
“Transmission planning historically focuses on “in region” transmission requirements. This novel plan outlines a range of actions over the next several years to improve interregional transmission planning and interconnection across three different grid planning regions in the Northeast,” a news release related to the strategic action plan said.
Key near-term actions include issuance of a Request for Information for potential interregional transmission projects that provide reliability benefits and cost savings for consumers. The plan also identifies transmission equipment standardization efforts to support a unified and comprehensive approach to transmission investments.
In 2023, New York participated in a request to the U.S. Department of Energy to convene a multi-state group – called the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission – a first-in-the-Northeast effort – to explore mutually beneficial opportunities to increase the flow of electricity between the ISO New England, New York ISO, and PJM Interconnection planning regions.
The Collaborative also includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Last summer, the multi-state group signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework for coordinating its activities and identified the strategic action plan as a critical next step.
Since that time, the Collaborative has engaged relevant federal agencies and organizations with technical expertise to identify and assess shared areas of focus for interregional transmission cooperation and coordination.
Issuance of the strategic action plan is a key milestone for the Collaborative as it seeks to remove regulatory and technical barriers to greater interregional transmission planning and engagement for the benefit of consumers and grid reliability.
The Collaborative will host a webinar on Tuesday, April 29 at 10 a.m. to discuss the strategic action plan’s near-term and mid-term focus areas. Registration information is available here.
