Overview
Held on August 14th, 2024 at Foley Hoag offices in Boston, 45 public and private industry leaders convened for the AEG Boston 24Q3 Stakeholder Challenge on Grid Modernization. The purpose of this challenge was to: 1.) Agree on a critical obstacle to equitable grid modernization efforts in Greater Boston to meet climate, health, and energy goals; 2.) Align on a 90-day sprint and 12-month objective to best address this obstacle; and 3.) Enable stakeholders to volunteer as part of a Task Force to deliver the solution.
5 Key Themes
1. Infrastructure Investments: Significant investments are needed in transmission and distribution infrastructure to support clean energy and electrification, with detailed plans for new and upgraded substations by 2035 from major utility companies.
“Accommodating large amounts of clean energy and electrification will require significant investments in the transmission and distribution grids” - Rep. Jeffrey N. Roy (10th Norfolk) House TUE Chair, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
2. Decarbonization and Electrification: Strategies to transition from gas to electric systems and reduce reliance on fossil fuels are critical, focusing on decarbonizing peak energy demands and integrating renewable energy sources.
“The Electric Sector Modernization Plans submitted by the electric distribution companies provide a roadmap of electric system demands and needs over the next 5, 10 and 20 years, with proposed investments in infrastructure, technology, and customer-facing programs” - Melissa Lavinson, Executive Director, Office of Energy Transformation, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
3. Innovation and Technology Integration: Along with fostering collaboration among stakeholders, testing new technologies and grid innovation initiatives will ensure the grid’s readiness for future demands.
“Grid innovation is necessary to help MA meet its climate mandates – to increase the speed, reduce the cost, and develop solutions for grid mod challenges we cannot yet solve.” - Sarah Cullinan, Senior Program Director, Net Zero Grid, MassCEC
4. Policy and Regulatory Alignment: Developing and passing supportive legislation and regulations that align long-term planning with immediate grid modernization needs is critical to ensure equitable benefits across all communities.
“Adjudicated proceedings in this space can become overwhelming and difficult for stakeholders – are there effective alternatives?” - Zachary Gerson, Partner, Foley Hoag
5. Community-Centered Planning and Interconnection: Emphasizing community engagement with utility and industry leaders to create tailored decarbonization plans will align infrastructure upgrades with local priorities, and promote healthier communities and economic development.
Speaker Challenge Summary
Each speaker provided an 8 minute and 5 slide presentation that concluded with this completed statement: “Regarding Grid Modernization, to achieve Greater Boston’s Climate, Health and Equity goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is __________.
Jeffrey Roy (Commonwealth of Massachusetts) emphasized the urgent need for equitable siting, permitting reform legislation, and substantial investments in Massachusetts' transmission and distribution infrastructure. Melissa Lavinson (Office of Energy Transformation) outlined the Office of Energy Transformation’s decarbonization initiatives to accelerate the gas-to-electric transition and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Penni McLean-Conner (Eversource) focused on economic/community-centered decarbonization planning, and the importance of infrastructure upgrades and community decarbonization for healthier communities. Zeyneb Magavi (HEET) discussed the potential of geothermal heat pumps to significantly reduce grid demand, advocating for policies that monetize the grid impacts of geothermal heating. Sarah Cullinan (MassCEC) presented MassCEC's Net Zero Grid Program, addressing barriers to grid innovation and the need to scale innovative solutions to meet the state's climate mandates. Finally, Zachary Gerson (Foley Hoag) reflected on Massachusetts' grid modernization journey, highlighting the importance of stakeholder engagement and exploring strategies to optimize investments for equitable benefits.
Participants agreed to prioritize the presented obstacles around the statement provided by Melissa Lavinson, Executive Director, Officer of Energy Transformation, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs with this derived obstacle:
“Regarding Grid Modernization, to achieve Greater Boston's Climate, Health, and Equity goals, a critical obstacle to collectively overcome in 12 months is the lack of alignment long-term planning/investment with immediate needs, starting with priority communities.”
Next-Step Actions
14 leaders came together to form a Task Force to complete the above 90-day sprint and 12-month objective.
Other proposed 90-Day Sprints and 12-Month Objectives included:
Task Force Volunteers: Christine Oumansour, Charles River Associates, Meredith Boericke, Everource, Aurora Edington, Department of Energy Resources, Zachary Gerson, Foley Hoag, Dan Carlston, Foley Hoag, Zeyneb Magavi, HEET, Michael Hershberg, Keegan Werlin LLP, Sarah Cullinan, MassCEC, Corrin Moss MassCEC, Alison Magoon, MassCEC, Kate Tohme, New Leaf Energy, Killian Tobin, Patrick Engineering, Jonathan Stout, PowerOptions, Ledum Nordee, Transform Power Systems
Conclusion
The AEG Boston 24Q3 Stakeholder Challenge on grid modernization brought together 45 industry leaders to address critical obstacles in achieving Greater Boston’s climate, health, and equity goals. The discussions emphasized the need for substantial infrastructure investments, community-centered decarbonization planning, and the integration of innovative technologies to support the transition from gas to electric systems. Participants agreed on the importance of aligning long-term planning with immediate community needs, forming a Task Force to tackle these challenges through collaborative efforts. This collective approach will drive equitable grid modernization, ensuring that Greater Boston’s energy future is resilient, sustainable, and benefits all communities.
