Press Release: 4/1/2025
Massachusetts and Regional Partners Issue First-in-the-Nation Competitive Transmission Solicitation to Unlock Affordable Electricity in New England
This procurement will unlock new affordable electricity to help power New England
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
4/01/2025
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Karissa Hand, Press Secretary
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Call Karissa Hand, Press Secretary at 617-725-4025
BOSTON — Massachusetts officials celebrated New England’s first competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for longer-term transmission investments issued yesterday by ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE), a long-time goal of the New England states. This RFP will address long-standing constraints on the New England power system and integrate new, affordable, onshore wind resources in the coming years. The process was developed by and for the New England states after years of collaboration with ISO-NE and regional stakeholders. This partnership enables the states to request that ISO-NE pursue transmission investment under a state-driven process that is grounded in the evaluation of broad regional benefits and consumer interests.
“This nation-leading transmission procurement will unlock affordable electricity for Massachusetts residents and businesses at a critical time,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This milestone represents what can happen when we work together – innovative and cost-effective solutions to our region’s most pressing energy challenges. We are grateful to our partner states and ISO New England for taking this important step forward toward regional energy independence.”
“New England is a region that leads,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Through partnership and a commitment to our shared long-term goals, we are able to get more done and deliver for our communities. Through this RFP, we’ll be able to power our growing regional economy and ensure we have a strong, reliable grid.”
“When we took office, we made a commitment to partner with our neighbor states. We’re grateful to see those relationships deliver such a meaningful investment in our region’s grid,” said Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Affordable electricity has been stuck behind inadequate transmission in Maine when it could flow freely to power communities across our region. Transmission is the key to lowering costs and strengthening reliability.”
“We are moving from study to solicitation,” said Jason Marshall, Massachusetts Deputy Secretary for Federal and Regional Energy Affairs. “This is a positive chapter in New England energy collaboration that is many years in the making. This procurement seeks to unlock locally sourced and abundant onshore wind resources while addressing long-standing bottlenecks on the region’s electric grid. While there are many steps left in this process, the issuance of this competitive procurement is a milestone for our region and for the partnership between the states and ISO New England.”
Historically, New England has lacked a mechanism to enable ISO-NE to procure transmission at the states’ request to meet the region’s needs decades into the future. In 2020, the New England states, through the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE), called for reforms to ISO-NE’s transmission planning rules to allow it to conduct more comprehensive, longer-term transmission planning studies and, at the New England states’ request, issue a competitive transmission solicitation.
In May 2024, with broad support from regional stakeholders, ISO-NE submitted a proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to implement this new regional transmission procurement process. In July 2024, FERC approved the new rules and, in December 2024, NESCOE sent a formal request to ISO-NE to develop an RFP for issuance this year.
The RFP targets a key area of future need identified in ISO-NE’s 2050 Transmission Study—seeking transmission solutions to strengthen the connection between northern and southern New England and unlock additional affordable generation resources located in Maine. The deadline for bids by qualified transmission project sponsors is September 30, 2025. ISO-NE will evaluate the bids submitted, in consultation with the New England states, and expects to select a preferred solution by September 2026. A strong preference will be given to bids with an in-service date by 2035. The New England states have agreed to share in the costs of these transmission investments, following an analysis by ISO New England comparing project costs with reliability benefits and cost savings that the upgraded transmission would provide to the region.
“This solicitation is a key step toward bringing more affordable and reliable electricity generation online as part of Governor Lamont’s all-of-the-above strategy to address energy affordability,” said Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Katie S. Dykes. “By working together to upgrade New England’s power grid, we will deliver more affordable and cleaner electricity to Connecticut and New England as a whole and improve grid reliability by diversifying our generation mix.”
"As Maine seeks to unlock more affordable, reliable power generated in our own backyard, regional coordination and long-term transmission planning have never been more critical," said Dan Burgess, Director of the Maine Governor's Energy Office. "This solicitation is an important and first of its kind step in that effort as we seek common sense solutions in New England that reduce costs while maximizing the flow of energy across our state and region."
“Today’s initiation of a regional transmission procurement is an important milestone for Maine and the region that will enable the integration of new renewable resources in Maine and strengthen the regional grid,” said Philip L. Bartlett II, Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. “Long-term regional planning and the selection of this project scope have demonstrated the important role of Maine-based resources in securing a reliable, affordable and clean energy future for the region.”