Transmission Challenge: Unleashing New England's Renewable Energy Potential

A new era of renewable energy beckons in New England. Yet the promise of deploying abundant clean energy — both on land and at sea — faces a fundamental obstacle: the need for new and upgraded transmission infrastructure. Offshore, New England’s wind assets require a coordinated approach to procure transmission to harness at least 15,000 megawatts. Onshore renewable assets, both wind and solar, will require a wider and more robust grid to reach their potential and help phase out legacy fossil fuel generation plants.

Without significant transmission planning and investment, New England states risk squandering clean and inexpensive energy sources while falling short of vitally important carbon reduction goals. Effective transmission planning will help ensure states meet greenhouse gas reduction goals and reward New England ratepayers with billions in energy savings.

To meet the moment and access newly available federal infrastructure funding, New England states must work together to run competitive solicitations for transmission. It will require concerted effort and multi-state coordination to create a new procurement paradigm to meet the urgent challenges of climate change. Meanwhile, deadlines are nearing for proposals to secure federal infrastructure funding for transmission.

Join RENEW Northeast, an organization that unites environmental advocates and the clean energy industry, along with energy regulators, elected officials, and thought leaders, for a conference on the urgent and necessary steps to build the transmission foundation for the next era of clean energy.

Program Agenda (see full details below)

8:30 a.m. Registration & Networking

9:00 a.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:15 a.m. Keynote Address: Senator Edward J. Markey

9:30 a.m. Panel Discussion - Making the Connection: Transmission Challenges Confronting Renewable Energy

Featured Panelists: Clarke Bruno, CEO, Anbaric

Michelle Gardner, Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs - Northeast, NextEra Energy Resources

Carrie Hitt, Lead Transmission Strategy & Innovation Hub, Equinor

Sarah Jackson, Northeast Climate Mitigation Strategy Lead, The Nature Conservancy

Lopa Parikh, Head of Electricity Policy, Orsted

10:30 a.m. Networking Break

10:45 a.m. Panel Discussion - The Transmission Infrastructure Opportunity: The Regional Plan

Featured Panelists: Philip L. Bartlett II, Chairman, Maine Public Utilities Commission

Christopher Kearns, Acting Commissioner, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

Jason Marshall, Deputy Secretary & Special Counsel for Federal & Regional Energy Affairs, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs

11:45 a.m. Q&A and Closing