On April 28, 2025, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) joined eight other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states in issuing a joint strategic action plan that identifies specific steps that state, regional, and federal policymakers can take to pursue interregional transmission solutions to reduce costs for consumers and make our energy systems more reliable.

The group of regional partners, known as the "Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission," is a first-of-its-kind coordination effort to address gaps in transmission planning and promote solutions that offer significant grid and consumer benefits. The strategic action plan announced today highlights both near-term and mid-term plans to guide the participating states.

Key near-term actions include issuing a Request for Information ("RFI") to identify specific potential qualifying interregional transmission projects. The plan also identifies transmission equipment standardization efforts as a key strategy to reduce the cost of transmission development.  

"Working together is essential to building a more affordable and reliable power grid that meets Connecticut's energy, economic, and environmental needs," said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. "Through this first-of-its-kind strategic action plan, we are partnering with other Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to advance transmission solutions. This work will help us bring online cleaner, more efficient, and more affordable power supply alternatives for our state and region." 

The Collaborative includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It formed following a 2023 request by several of the states to the U.S. Department of Energy to convene a multi-state group to explore how three electricity planning regions in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic (ISO New England, New York ISO, and PJM Interconnection) could improve flow of electricity between their regions to increase reliability and improve affordability. Last summer, the multi-state group signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework for coordinating its activities and identified this strategic action plan as a critical next step. 

Since that time, the Collaborative has engaged relevant federal agencies and organizations with technical expertise to identify and assess shared areas of focus for interregional transmission cooperation and coordination. Issuance of the strategic action plan is a key milestone for the Collaborative as the participating states seek to remove regulatory and technical barriers to greater interregional transmission planning and engagement for the benefit of consumers and grid reliability.  

Here's what officials from our partner states in the Collaborative are saying about this initiative and the Strategic Action Plan: 

"Regional and interregional collaboration will help get more affordable electricity to customers throughout the region," said Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "We are proud to partner with Northeast states in issuing this strategic action plan which will help us explore cost-effective transmission solutions to deliver savings to businesses and residents in the Northeast."

"We know that interregional transmission offers broad consumer benefits, but we lack current mechanisms to pursue these projects," said Jason Marshall, Massachusetts Deputy Secretary for Federal and Regional Energy Affairs. "This innovative collaboration among states helps to address transmission planning gaps and advance interregional transmission solutions that increase access to lower-cost energy and bolster reliability."

New York State Department of Public Service CEO Rory M. Christian said, "Collaboration and cooperation will help get more affordable electricity to customers throughout this economically vital part of the United States. This innovative plan will give our region the opportunity to investigate and assess key interregional transmission options that have the potential to make the electric grid more efficient and improve reliability for everyone in the region while reducing costs for ratepayers. Given the importance of this work, we are proud to partner with other states in the Northeast to explore cost-effective transmission solutions to deliver savings and promote affordable electric service to regional residents and businesses."

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "Pursuing interregional transmission solutions with our Northeast partners will help reduce costs for consumers and make our energy systems more secure. New York is pleased to work with our partners to improve the interregional planning process and increase grid reliability in all our regions."

"Improving interregional transmission efforts is essential to lowering long-term energy costs, enhancing system reliability, and meeting our respective states long-term energy goals," said Acting Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources Commissioner Chris Kearns. "Rhode Island is proud to join our Northeast partners in advancing this strategic action plan, which reflects our shared commitment to modernizing the grid and ensuring a more affordable and resilient energy future."

"New Jersey is proud to work with our partners throughout the Northeast to identify and mobilize around transmission solutions to reduce costs for ratepayers and bolster reliability," said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. "As we take a comprehensive look at opportunities to secure short and long-term ratepayer savings, all options are on the table and this strategic action plan will help us explore transmission solutions that deliver savings and reliability benefits for millions of residents and businesses."

"States across the Northeast share a common priority to ensure an affordable, reliable and sustainable electric grid", said Vermont's Department of Public Service Commissioner Kerrick Johnson. "Transmission is at the heart of securing that energy future, and this Strategic Action Plan charts the course on how to make that happen. The Plan complements New England's Longer-Term Transmission Planning initiative and Vermont's successful push for instate renewable generation. We are both proud and grateful to join with our sister states to undertake this collaborative and critical work." 

"Not having to build new power plants saves Marylanders money. Increased interregional transmission capacity can reduce the need for power plants that exist solely to meet peak demand, which are typically fossil-fueled, and provide congestion cost savings," said Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul G. Pinsky. "This collaboration illustrates exactly why state-led climate action is so important to achieving our energy, environmental, and economic goals."

The Strategic Action Plan is available here: Strategic-Action-Plan-Final.pdf

Contact

DEEP Communications  
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110