Energy leaders from the six New England states met with utility and advanced energy industry leaders to explore common efforts to modernize the electric power grid and design electric rates to maximize the benefits of new, distributed energy technologies, such as solar, battery storage and microgrids.
The New England 21st Century Electricity System Executive Forum comprised 50 state officials, utility leaders and executives of advanced energy companies. Attendees included Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew Beaton, Rhode Island Commissioner of Energy Resources Marion Gold and Deputy Commissioner Katie Scharf Dykes of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The focus of the forum was on developing a common vision for the region's electric power system that embraces cleantech, increased customer control over energy options, improved system reliability and reduced customer costs. Topics discussed included new utility business models, regulatory concepts, financing structures, technology innovation, rate designs and partnerships that can put the ideas into practice.
Additional participants included executives of Eversource Energy, National Grid, Unitil, Central Maine Power and Green Mountain Power, as well as corporate leaders from Ambri, CLEAResult, EnergySavvy, EnerNOC, GE, GridCo Systems, Intel, KeyBanc Capital Partners, Landis+Gyr, Opower, SunEdison, Veolia North America and Walmart. Representatives of a number of other companies, utilities from around the New England region and nonprofit organizations attended as observers.
The New England 21st Century Electricity System Executive Forum was sponsored by the Advanced Energy Economy Institute, the Northeast Clean Energy Council and the Boston Green Ribbon Commission. It was hosted by the Mintz Levin law firm.
