Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

Major Initiatives Including Ongoing Regional Energy Collaboration and Procurement Efforts

OER is Rhode Island’s lead state agency on energy policy and programs. For more information on OER’s major initiatives, please visit the following pages:

Regional Energy Collaboration

OER works with a wide range of parties to advance regional energy efforts throughout New England and the Northeast Region. From major infrastructure to long-term energy procurement, to energy security and regional coordination and oversight. OER also works closely with our colleagues at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC), regional energy and regulatory agencies, and engages with ISO-NE through the New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE).

Regional Procurements and Coordination

OER coordinates with Rhode Island Energy (RIE) and the DPUC on the State’s Affordable Clean Energy Security (ACES) Act and Renewable Long-Term Contracting Procurement (LTCP) energy procurements to ensure compliance with the state’s energy, climate and affordability goals.

As part of ISO-NE’s Long Term Transmission Planning study, development of a transmission line connecting the ISO-NE grid to the Northern Maine grid (which is interconnected with the New Brunswick grid) could provide significant benefit by bringing low-cost generation online to help drive down winter electricity prices and provide greater overall regional reliability.

  • The Maine PUC issued an RFP to develop both the transmission and generation elements in Q1 of 2026. Final bids were received in June of 2026, and in August the ME PUC accepted Avangrid’s bid to develop the transmission line, and a bid to develop 800MW of Onshore Wind connected to the line. Avangrid is expected to file for approval of the project with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in late Q3 2026.
  • If approved the project is expected to the enter the ISO-NE 2026 cluster study, and will build on the LTTP procurement from ISO-NE to expand existing transmission capacity within ISO-NE territory.
  • The new line is expected to be completed in 2032-2033, with the generation coming online in 2034. Coordination among a majority of New England states and via NESCOE has allowed this project to be procured in a cost-effective manner reflecting the project’s benefits accruing to each state.
  • The project is expected to provide long-term benefits to Rhode Island and help drive down winter electricity prices (when the high cost of natural gas and oil drive supply costs up) while helping the state meet its long-term emissions reduction goals.
  • In June of 2026 the State Legislature amended the procurement rules for the Renewable Energy Standard, expanding definitions to allow Rhode Island Energy to procure energy from existing nuclear facilities in the region as part of a 25% emission free carve-out to the RES.
  • In conjunction with the Northern Maine RFP and due to CT state law, CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued an RFP for energy from resources including onshore wind and nuclear.
  • OER again has engaged under the ACES framework as the process has progressed, and continues to work with them to ensure a clear, accurate and transparent process that benefits Rhode Islanders is achieved. 
  • The results of the CT DEEP and multi-state effort are anticipated between Q3-Q4 of 2026.
  • The states were awarded a $389 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2024.
  • OER has participated both directly with the collaborative developing this project and through its participation in NESCOE to support the proposal for a long duration energy storage system to be developed in Lincoln, ME. 
  • The 85MW energy storage system uses a next generation iron-oxide solution to store and discharge carbon-free energy continuously for up to 100 hours, providing energy reliably over multiple days.
  • Two additional transmission lines will be built in southeastern CT and MA to connect the project to a wider range of generation sources and expand the capacity of renewable systems to provide energy to the ISO-NE grid through the storage system.
  • The Points Effort explores the potential for Offshore Transmission infrastructure (OSTI) to provide improved reliability, interoperability between ISO territories and cost savings using offshore cable interlinks.
  • Early analysis shows strong potential for cost savings and price suppression by deploying technically standardized OSTI. Savings emerge through increased Offshore Wind capacity and reduction in deployment (including siting and permitting) of land-based transmission.
  • The working group continues to refines next steps including the potential release of an RFI to solicit direct industry feedback on the Consortiums findings.

Infrastructure Planning and Oversight

  • Acting OER Commissioner (Chris Kearns) and PUC Chairman (Ronald Gerwatowski) serve as Rhode Island’s Co-Managers with NESCOE, which coordinates engagement and oversight of regional energy policy and infrastructure. Recent efforts include: advocacy for an Asset Condition Reviewer role within ISO-NE to ensure transparency and accountability among transmission investment proposals paid for by ratepayers, work to refine ISO-NE’s shift to new market structures
  • OER works with the state’s delivered fuel (heating oil, propane, gasoline, jet fuel) terminals, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and RI Energy to monitor and coordinate recovery efforts during major storms or other forms of outage events, ensuring critical supply delivered fuels supply chains are available as readily as possible during and after an event.
  • OER also coordinates with our counterparts in the other states throughout the Northeast as part of the Northeast Regional Operational Coordination Collaborative (NEROCC) to expand on the State Energy Security Plan, and create a wide-scope view into energy supply status and accelerate response to disruptions regionally.