This procurement will unlock new affordable electricity to help power New England
April 1, 2025
Augusta, MAINE – The Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) today celebrated New England’s first competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for longer-term transmission investments issued yesterday by ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE), a long-time goal of the New England states.
This RFP will address long-standing constraints on the New England power system and integrate new, affordable, onshore wind resources in the coming years. The process was developed by and for the New England states after years of collaboration with ISO-NE and regional stakeholders. This partnership enables the states to request that ISO-NE pursue transmission investment under a state-driven process that is grounded in the evaluation of broad regional benefits and consumer interests.
"As Maine seeks to unlock more affordable, reliable power generated in our own backyard, regional coordination and long-term transmission planning have never been more critical," said Dan Burgess, Director of the Maine Governor's Energy Office. "This solicitation is an important and first of its kind step in that effort as we seek common sense solutions in New England that reduce costs while maximizing the flow of energy across our state and region."
“Today’s initiation of a regional transmission procurement is an important milestone for Maine and the region that will enable the integration of new renewable resources in Maine and strengthen the regional grid,” said Philip L. Bartlett II, Chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. “Long-term regional planning and the selection of this project scope have demonstrated the important role of Maine-based resources in securing a reliable, affordable and clean energy future for the region.”
Historically, New England has lacked a mechanism to enable ISO-NE to procure transmission at the states’ request to meet the region’s needs decades into the future. In 2020, the New England states, through the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE), called for reforms to ISO-NE’s transmission planning rules to allow it to conduct more comprehensive, longer-term transmission planning studies and, at the New England states’ request, issue a competitive transmission solicitation. Chair Bartlett is Maine’s representative to NESCOE.
In May 2024, with broad support from regional stakeholders, ISO-NE submitted a proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to implement this new regional transmission procurement process. In July 2024, FERC approved the new rules and, in December 2024, NESCOE sent a formal request to ISO-NE to develop an RFP for issuance this year.
The RFP targets a key area of future need identified in ISO-NE’s 2050 Transmission Study—seeking transmission solutions to strengthen the connection between northern and southern New England and unlock additional affordable generation resources located in Maine. The deadline for bids by qualified transmission project sponsors is September 30, 2025. ISO-NE will evaluate the bids submitted, in consultation with the New England states, and expects to select a preferred solution by September 2026. A strong preference will be given to bids with an in-service date by 2035. The New England states have agreed to share in the costs of these transmission investments, following an analysis by ISO New England comparing project costs with reliability benefits and cost savings that the upgraded transmission would provide to the region.
# # #