New England Grid Operator Issues Request for Proposals to Address Long Term Transmission Needs

The New Engladn grid operator, at the bequest of New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE), has issued a request for proposal (RFP) to tackle long term transmission requirements, according to an April 1 press release. The proposals are expected to be submitted in September 2025, following assessment by the operator, a preferred solution may be chosen by NESCOE by September 2026.

This RFP was initiated by a December 2024 communication from NESCOE to ISO-NE  to address certain longer-term needs in connection with the 2050 Transmission Study. The request aligns with Phase 2 of the long-term transmission planning, or LTTP, process, which was established in response to a 2020 document titled “New England States’ Vision for a Clean, Affordable, and Reliable 21st Century Regional Electric Grid,” urging the grid operator to integrate long-term transmission planning into its regional system planning. The RFP framework is largely based on the study that was conducted as part of Phase 1 of the LTTP. The study determined the region’s needs in order to serve load while satisfying reliability criteria. To this end, the study recognised a number of high-likelihood concerns that could appear as limitations under a number of future system conditions.

A strong transmission network that can integrate renewable energy and deliver clean power to New England consumers is essential for achieving state emission reduction targets, yet transmission development requires time. The LTTP extends beyond the current 10-year framework, enabling upgrades to meet the region’s anticipated needs further into the future.

The aim of the RFP is to develop the transmission system between northern Maine and Southern New England. On shore wind production is projected to rise in Maine and increased interconnection will help meet demand for electricity in regions of southern New England.

NESCOE’s request incorporates a number of requirements that all RFP’s must address. These include increasing the volume of electricity that can move between the Maine–New Hampshire and Surowiec–South transmission crossing points, and enhancing new infrastructure around Pittsfield, Maine, that could facilitate the interconnection of 1,200 megawatts of onshore wind.

ISO-NE will evaluate proposals based on a number of factors, including cost benefit to the region and additional assessment priorities outlined by NESCOE.