Connecticut legislators forum
Last month, Connecticut legislators held a forum exploring the state's electric grid, including pressures on the system and strategies for improving grid resiliency. Despite being the southernmost New England state, Connecticut is no stranger to harsh winters and its resulting challenges. The discussion's apt title "Staring into The Storm," reflects the primary concerns voiced by Energy and Technology Committee chairs, state Senator Norm Needleman and state Representative David Arconti.
Compelling points were made on all sides, with perspectives from policymakers and C-suite executives. Unfortunately, a full recount of the detailed forum would take all the pages of this month's issue. Here are some highlights the PUF team thought shouldn't be missed.
ISO-NE CEO
CEO Gordon Van Welie described ISO-New England's function to the forum as administering wholesale electricity markets to achieve liabilities through those markets, as well as planning transmission. However, he pointed out that ISO-NE does not plan the resource mix. Rather, it works with the resource mix that comes through the market. In addition, it doesn't plan fuel infrastructure.
Van Welie qualified the word reliable, explaining that ISO-NE's job is to maintain balance between supply and demand on the grid. Part of that is reducing demand to balance supply when necessary. It's neglecting this balance that can lead to uncontrolled blackouts.