MILFORD, Mass. — Stakeholders have until April 1 to submit written requests for economic studies to be done in 2016 on generation additions or transmission upgrades that can relieve congestion and reduce LMPs.

ISO-NE will develop a scope of work and cost estimate for all requested studies and may add its own proposals. The RTO also will develop a preliminary prioritization based on expected benefits.

Presentations on proposals will be made at the April 20 PAC meeting.

“We need to have some specificity — the locations, the what, where and when,” said Michael Henderson, ISO-NE director, regional planning and coordination.

The PAC is scheduled to select up to three studies to be conducted, and determine the final order of priority, by June 1.

Last year, the RTO considered wind expansion scenarios in the Keene Road area of Maine, Northern New England and offshore Rhode Island and Massachusetts. (See “Draft Study Shows Greater Wind Penetration Benefits,” ISO-NE Planning Advisory Committee Briefs.)

ICR Forecast Shows Slowing Rate of Increase

ISO-NE is reducing its installed capacity requirement for commitment periods four to nine years into the future by an average of 500 MW compared with last year’s forecast, due to slowing load growth and the increase of behind-the-meter solar generation.

The calculations are based on the RTO’s 10-year forecast for capacity, energy, load and transmission, otherwise known as the CELT forecast. The models were adjusted to account for the announced closure of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant, slated for no later than mid-2019.

The RTO cited behind-the-meter solar in reducing its load forecast by 390 MW for the recently concluded 10th Forward Capacity Auction for the 2019/20 capacity commitment period. (See FERC Accepts ISO-NE’s Solar Count over Protests.)

The new ICR study period includes the years for FCA 11-15.

— William Opalka