BOSTON (Legal Newsline) - Massachusetts will lead a study that will review electricity reliability needs in the New England region, Attorney General Maura Healey said Monday.
Healey's office, along with support from the Barr Foundation, will conduct the study and plan to identify and evaluate the electricity needs and natural gas capacity demand in New England through 2030.
“Our goal with this study is to identify the most cost-effective solutions for ratepayers that will also allow us to achieve our regional climate goals,” Healey said in a statement.
“As the state makes long-term decisions about additional gas capacity investments, we should understand the facts -- what the future demand is, and which cost-effective energy and efficiency resources can be deployed to meet that demand.”
The study will be completed by Boston-based Analysis Group and will evaluate all potentially available energy resource options.
"The energy decisions the region makes today have long-term implications on our ability to meet demand, generate benefits for consumers and the economy, and maintain our status as a national leader on climate action," said Mariella Puerto, senior program officer for Clean Energy at the Barr Foundation.
"We are pleased to support this research effort to ensure that energy decisions are informed by a solid research base about the most cost effective and sustainable solutions.”