Grid operators are striving to address increased demand and other challenges across the country.

In the Northeast, officials have come together to coordinate their efforts.

In July 2024, several states signed a memorandum of understanding to form the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission (Collaborative). The purpose of the agreement was to coordinate enhanced interregional transmission planning and development.

In April, the Collaborative’s member states signed a Strategic Action Plan. It identifies priority actions to promote the development of interregional transmission projects, improve reliability and increase cost savings to the regions’ consumers. Co-signers of the plan include delegates from Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The plan points to several recent studies that show the value of coordinated interregional transmission planning. It notes that decarbonization and the integration of renewable resources are high priorities. However, improvements in interregional transmission will benefit the region regardless of how much renewables are added, because demand is expected to rise through 2040.

The plan identifies the need for 2 gigawatts (GW) of so-called low-regrets transmission projects between the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), which manages the grid for New York state, and PJM Interconnection, which manages the grid for more than a dozen neighboring states. It identifies the need for an additional 1.7 GW of low-regrets projects between NYISO and ISO-New England, which oversees the grid in several New England states.

Low-regrets projects are those that will help reduce carbon emissions with relatively low costs but with widespread economic, social and environmental benefits. Low-regrets projects benefit affected users even in a scenario in which the need for decarbonization is not factored in, because they increase efficiency, lower costs and improve reliability.

The plan also emphasizes a need for 5 GW of low-regrets projects between Quebec, Canada, and ISO-New England and NYISO by 2050.