Massachusetts HD 4763: A report of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (under Section 71 of Chapter 179 of the Acts of 2022) submitting the final report of the Clean Energy Transmission Working Group

Bill Text

Clean Energy Transmission
Working Group
Report to the Legislature
December 2023

Clean Energy Transmission Working Group – Report to the Legislature - i

Contents
Letter From the Chairs .................................................................................................................... iv
Clean Energy Transmission Working Group Members ................................................................... v
Clean Energy Transmission Working Group – Staff ........................................................................ v
Acroynms ........................................................................................................................................ vi
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... viii
1. Background ......................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. Legislative Mandate for the Clean Energy Transmission Working Group ....................... 1
1.1.1. Section 71 of the 2022 Climate Act Requirements ................................................ 1
1.1.2. Clean Energy Transmission Working Group Membership .................................... 2
1.2. Public Meetings................................................................................................................. 3
1.2.1. Schedule ................................................................................................................. 3
1.2.2. Public comments and participation ........................................................................ 3
1.2.3. Access to information ............................................................................................ 3
2. Jurisdiction Authority ......................................................................................................... 4
2.1. Federal/FERC ................................................................................................................... 4
2.1.1. Transmission rates.................................................................................................. 4
2.1.2. Transmission planning and interconnection ........................................................... 4
2.1.3. Federal role in transmission siting ......................................................................... 5
2.1.4. Transmission reliability .......................................................................................... 5
2.2. State Authorities ................................................................................................................ 6
3. Transmission Planning ........................................................................................................ 6
3.1. Bulk Power System ........................................................................................................... 6
3.1.1. ISO-NE transmission planning .............................................................................. 6
3.1.2. Transmission needs in New England ..................................................................... 9
3.2. Distribution System......................................................................................................... 11
3.2.1. Defining the distribution system .......................................................................... 11
3.2.2. Current state of the distribution system ............................................................... 11
3.2.3. Comprehensive planning approach ...................................................................... 11
3.2.4. Future focus for system optimization and flexibility ........................................... 12
3.3. ISO-NE Draft 2050 Transmission Study......................................................................... 12
3.3.1. Scope, assumptions, state input ........................................................................... 13
3.3.2. Findings ............................................................................................................... 14
3.3.3. Next steps ............................................................................................................. 16

Clean Energy Transmission Working Group – Report to the Legislature - ii

4. Cost Allocation ................................................................................................................. 19
4.1. Overview of Transmission Costs and Benefits ............................................................... 19
4.2. ISO-NE Cost Allocation .................................................................................................. 20
4.2.1. Reliability projects and economic projects .......................................................... 20
4.2.2. Public policy projects ........................................................................................... 20
4.2.3. Local transmission projects .................