Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission Sign Memorandum of Understanding

On July 9, 2024, 10 Northeast states signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that establishes a framework to coordinate enhanced interregional planning and development of electricity transmission. This agreement supports an effort among these states to reduce consumer costs, bolster the clean energy transition, and enhance grid reliability and resilience. Several states in the Northeast have set goals or established requirements to decarbonize their grids and increase renewable energy consumption, and this collaborative provides a platform for this multi-state group to explore interregional transmission options that seek to achieve these goals and requirements in a cost-effective manner.

Signatories of this MOU from the 10 states consisted of the following:

• Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
• Delaware Division of Climate, Coastal, and Energy, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
• Maine Governor's Energy Office
• Maryland Energy Administration
• Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
• New Hampshire Department of Energy
• New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
• New York Public Service Commission and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
• Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources
• Vermont Public Service Department

The group, the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission, was created last year when the states requested the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) convene a multi-state initiative regarding regional electricity transmission. This effort was created with the goal to explore both the opportunities to increase transmission among three different planning regions in the Northeast and optimize the delivery of offshore wind to maximize consumer benefits. This MOU formalizes the collaboration among the different entities involved, in which states will share "technical data, solicitation guidance, regulatory updates, strategic plans, project status reports, and research findings."

More information can be found here.