Transitioning to the Future Grid in MA Event Series

Transitioning to the Future Grid in MA is a kick-off event on Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Boston. This is the first of a three-event series being organized by NECEC and sponsored by MassCEC.

The event is being held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, 600 Atlantic Avenue, at 9am to 12:30pm. The second event is in May, and the third in September.

This series will explore the transition to the future grid that will follow the Commonwealth’s Electric Sector Modernization Plan process. NECEC will convene stakeholders from across the MA energy ecosystem, including public and private sector leaders, communities, utilities, technology providers, entrepreneurs, and academics to hold a dialog on how to lean on innovation and collaboration to achieve an efficient, effective, clean grid.

The first event will feature an introduction from MassCEC's CEO, Dr. Emily Reichert, and remarks from Secretary Tepper, of the MA Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. We will then open a discussion about key strategies for the grid transition, including:

Collaborative grid planning, including increasing data and information flow between grid users and operators

• How can information about where and when electrification is happening better flow between grid users and grid operators?
• What type of formal or informal processes should be developed?
• Are there innovative tools and policies needed to help in this effort?

Maximizing the utilization of grid infrastructure, on both the transmission and distribution systems

• For the distribution system, what is the status of and how can winter ratings and distribution automation be used to increase design capacity? Are there additional technologies/solutions needed in distribution system efficiency?
• For the transmission system, what are the steps to integrate grid enhancing technologies (GETs) at a broad scale? Can GETs benefit the distribution system?
• For both systems, what technologies/needs do grid operators see related to operationalizing VPPs and grid flexibility? What do stakeholders see in the future for how VPPs in MA look like? What do we need to get there? What is the potential for increased grid efficiency from VPPs/other grid flex sources?

We hope to have you contribute to this important discussion!