CONCORD — The New England power grid is vulnerable in winter, and this year it is in an even more precarious situation due to energy supply chain issues and a changing global natural gas market.
Officials from ISO-New England — an independent system operator created in 1997 to operate regional power system, implement wholesale markets and ensure open access to transmission lines — said Monday if generators lack access to enough fuel, and a prolonged cold snap grips the region, rolling blackouts may be needed to prevent the entire grid from crashing.
kAm$JDE6> @77:4:2=D D2:5 E9C66 G2C:23=6D H:== 56E6C>:?6 E96 ?665 7@C 6>6C86?4J 24E:@?i H62E96C D6G6C:EJj E96 8=@32= AC:46 @7 @:= 2?5 {}v W=:BF:7:65 ?2EFC2= 82DXj 2?5 ?2EFC2= 82D A:A6=:?6 4@?DEC2:?ED 5FC:?8 E96 H:?E6C 962E:?8 D62D@?] %96 ?2EFC2= 82D AC:@C:EJ 5FC:?8 H:?E6C :D 7@C 962E]k^Am
kAmx7 E9@D6 6G6?ED @44FC[ E96 DJDE6> @A6C2E@C H:== FD6 D6G6C2= @A6C2E:?8 AC@465FC6D E@ >2?286 E96 8C:5[ H:E9 4@?EC@==65 A@H6C @FE286D 2 =2DE C6D@CE[ E96J D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 @77:4:2=D D2:5 E96 H62E96C :D E96 3:886DE F?<?@H? E92E 4@F=5 EC:886C “4@?EC@==65 3=24<@FED” E@ D965 =@25 2?5 AC6G6?E 2 DJDE6> 72:=FC6]k^Am
kAm%96 }2E:@?2= ~462?:4 2?5 pE>@DA96C:4 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? :D AC65:4E:?8 2 >:=56C E92? ?@C>2= H:?E6C 7@C E96 C68:@?]k^Am
kAmx$~ @77:4:2=D D2:5 E96J 6IA64E E@ 92G6 E96 C6D@FC46D ?66565 E@ >66E 4@?DF>6C 56>2?5 :7 E96 H:?E6C :D >:=5[ 3FE 2 D6G6C6 AC@=@?865 4@=5 D?2A 4@F=5 >62? 6>6C86?4J 24E:@?D]k^Am
kAm“pD H6 4@?E:?F6 @FC H@C< H:E9 E96 }6H t?8=2?5 DE2E6D 2?5 :?5FDECJ DE2<69@=56CD E@ EC2?D:E:@? E@ 2 4=62?6C 8C:5[ E96 x$~ 2=D@ 92D E@ >2:?E2:? C62=\E:>6 A@H6C DJDE6> C6=:23:=:EJ[” D2:5 v@C5@? G2? (6=:6[ x$~ }6H t?8=2?5’D AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~]k^Am
kAm“x? C646?E J62CD[ @:= 2?5 {}v 92G6 7:==65 E96 82AD H96? 6IE6?565 A6C:@5D @7 G6CJ 4@=5 H62E96C 92G6 4@?DEC2:?65 ?2EFC2= 82D A:A6=:?6 DFAA=:6D] w:896C AC:46D 8=@32==J 7@C E96D6 7F6=D[ 2D H6== 2D A2?56>:4\C6=2E65 DFAA=J 492:? 492==6?86D[ 4@F=5 =:>:E E96:C 2G2:=23:=:EJ :? }6H t?8=2?5 :7 ?66565 E@ AC@5F46 6=64EC:4:EJ E9:D H:?E6C] %96 C68:@? H@F=5 36 :? 2 AC642C:@FD A@D:E:@? :7 2? 6IE6?565 4@=5 D?2A H6C6 E@ 56G6=@A 2?5 E96D6 7F6=D H6C6 ?@E 2G2:=23=6[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmt2C=:6C E9:D 72==[ 7656C2= 6?6C8J C68F=2E@CD AC65:4E65 E96 }6H t?8=2?5 C68:@? H@F=5 36 G6CJ GF=?6C23=6 5FC:?8 E96 H:?E6C 962E:?8 D62D@? 5F6 E@ :ED C6=:2?46 @? ?2EFC2= 82D E@ 7F6= 2 >2;@C:EJ @7 :ED A@H6C 86?6C2E:@?[ 2?5 DA:<:?8 ?2EFC2= 82D AC:46D 5F6 E@ 8C62E6C 56>2?5 7C@> tFC@A6 2?5 pD:2]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 }6H t?8=2?5 EC25:E:@?2==J 92D 925 E96 9:896DE AC:46D 7@C {}v[ E92E :D ?@ =@?86C ECF6 2D AC:46D 2C6 9:896C :? tFC@A6 2?5 y2A2?[ >2<:?8 E96> >@C6 =F4C2E:G6 >2C<6ED 7@C ?2EFC2= 82D DFAA=:6CD]k^Am
kAmx$~ @77:4:2=D FD65 %6I2D =2DE H:?E6C 2?5 r2=:7@C?:2 2D 6I2>A=6D @7 FE:=:E:6D 92G:?8 E@ D965 =@25 2?5 E96J D2:5 E96J 6IA64E E@ 4@>>F?:42E6 E@ C6D:56?ED 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D E96 ?665 7@C 6?6C8J D2G:?8D :7 2 AC@3=6> 2AA62CD @? E96 9@C:K@? 2D 2 7:CDE DE6A E@ 2G6CE 2? 6>6C86?4J 24E:@?]k^Am
kAm“(6 @A6C2E6 :? H:?E6C G6CJ 4=@D6 E@ E96 6586 96C6 :? }6H t?8=2?5 2?5 H6 92G6 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6[” D2:5 G2? (6=:6] “%96 `d >:==:@? A6@A=6 :? }6H t?8=2?5 ?665 E@ F?56CDE2?5 E96 AC642C:@FD A@D:E:@? H6 2C6 :? H96? H6 92G6 2? 6IE6?565 A6C:@5 @7 6IEC6>6 4@=5 H62E96C]”k^Am
kAm(:E9 E96 D9:7E 2H2J 7C@> 7@DD:= 7F6=D[ E96 D:EF2E:@? :D 8@:?8 E@ 86E H@CD6[ 96 D2:5[ 2?5 “H6 92G6 2 =@E @7 H@C< 29625 @7 FD E@ D@=G6 E9:D AC@3=6>]”k^Am
kAm%96 DJDE6> @A6C2E@C AC65:4ED E96 A62< H:?E6C 56>2?5 E9:D D62D@? H:== 36 `h[f`_ >682H2EED 5FC:?8 2G6C286 H:?E6C H62E96C 4@?5:E:@?D @7 `_ 568C66D u29C6?96:E[ 2?5 a_[bch |( :7 E6>A6C2EFC6D C6249 36=@H 2G6C286 4@?5:E:@?D @7 d 568C66D]k^Am
kAmq@E9 AC@;64E:@?D 2C6 23@FE a A6C46?E =@H6C E92? =2DE J62C’D 7@C642DED]k^Am
kAm%96 }6H t?8=2?5 H:?E6C C64@C5 7@C A62< FD286 :D aa[g`g |( 5FC:?8 2 y2?F2CJ a__c 4@=5 D?2A[ 2?5 E96 DF>>6C A62< H2D ag[`b_ |([ @? pF8] a[ a__e]k^Am
kAm“w:89=:89E:?8 E96D6 4@?46C?D W23@FE E9:D H:?E6CX :D ?@E >62?E E@ 42FD6 F?5F6 2=2C> 2E E9:D 62C=J DE286[” D2:5 G2? (6=:6] “#2E96C[ 3J :56?E:7J:?8 2?5 D92C:?8 E96 4@?5:E:@?D F?56C H9:49 E96 A@H6C DJDE6> H@F=5 36 >@DE 492==6?865[ H6 9@A6 E@ AC6A2C6 E96 C68:@? E92E :7 E96D6 4@?5:E:@?D 2C:D6[ E96 x$~[ FE:=:E:6D[ 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E @77:4:2=D >2J 2D< 7@C 4@?D6CG2E:@? @7 6=64EC:4:EJ 2?5 82D FD286 2D 2? 62C=J DE6A :? 2G@:5:?8 @C >:?:>:K:?8 E96 ?665 7@C 6>6C86?4J 24E:@?D]”k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 H9:=6 wJ5C@ "F6364 6?6C8J :D ?@E E96 6?E:C6 D@=FE:@? :E 4@F=5 96=A AC@G:56 255:E:@?2= C6D@FC46D 7@C E96 C68:@?]k^Am
kAmx$~\}6H t?8=2?5 56D4C:36D :ED6=7 2D E96 :?56A6?56?E[ ?@E\7@C\AC@7:E 4@CA@C2E:@? C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C <66A:?8 6=64EC:4:EJ 7=@H:?8 24C@DD E96 D:I }6H t?8=2?5 DE2E6D 2?5 6?DFC:?8 E92E E96 C68:@? 92D C6=:23=6[ 4@>A6E:E:G6=J AC:465 H9@=6D2=6 6=64EC:4:EJ E@52J 2?5 :?E@ E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAm'2? (6=:6 D2:5 96 :D 5:D2AA@:?E65 E92E |2:?6 C6D:56?ED G@E65 282:?DE E96 }6H t?8=2?5 r=62? t?6C8J r@??64E EC2?D>:DD:@? =:?6 3FE D2:5 96 4@F=5 7@C6D66 EH@ @C E9C66 `[a__ |( =:?6D 3C:?8:?8 r2?25:2? 9J5C@ A@H6C :?E@ }6H t?8=2?5[ 3FE E96J H:== 36 >@C6 6IA6?D:G6 2?5 E2<6 >@C6 E:>6]k^Am
kAm“!6@A=6 5@ ?@E H2?E E@ D66 WE96 EC2?D>:DD:@? =:?6DX[” G2? (:=:6 D2:5] “x7 J@F 3FCJ E96>[ J@F =@D6 E96 @3;64E:@?[ 3FE J@F :?4FC 2 >F49 9:896C AC:46[ 3FE E92E :D @?6 H2J E@ D@=G6 E96 AC@3=6>]”k^Am
kAm$6G6C2= J62CD 28@[ E96 x$~ 3682? 4@>A:=:?8 2 a`\52J 7@C642DE 5FC:?8 H:?E6C E92E =@@<D 2E AC@;64E65 H62E96C[ 7F6= DFAA=J[ 6DE:>2E65 4@?DF>6C 56>2?5[ 2?5 @E96C 724E@CD 27764E:?8 E96 8C:5]k^Am
kAm!6E6C qC2?5:6?[ G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 DJDE6> @A6C2E:@?D 2?5 >2C<6E 25>:?:DEC2E:@?[ x$~ }6H t?8=2?5[ D2:5 H96? 2D<:?8 7@C 6?6C8J D2G:?8D[ E96J 2C6 ?@E E2=<:?8 23@FE 2G@:5:?8 ;FDE A62< A6C:@5D 5FC:?8 E96 52J[ 3FE D2G:?8D 7@C E96 5FC2E:@? @7 E96 4@=5 DA6==]k^Am
kAm“x7 H6 D66 2 D9@CE72== 4@>:?8[ H6 42? D2J H6 H2?E J@F E@ E2<6 24E:@? |@?52J[ E@ AC6G6?E 2 AC@3=6> %9FCD52J[” qC2?5:6? D2:5] “(6 H2?E A6@A=6 E@ 4@?D6CG6 6?6C8J F?E:= H6 86E E9C@F89 E96 6G6?E]”k^Am
kAmp??6 v6@C86[ G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 6IE6C?2= 2772:CD 2?5 4@CA@C2E6 4@>>F?:42E:@?D[ x$~ }6H t?8=2?5[ D2:5 96C @C82?:K2E:@? H:== 4@@C5:?2E6 H:E9 FE:=:E:6D 2?5 DE2E6 286?4:6D @? 4@?D6CG2E:@? >62DFC6D]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 H@C<:?8 @? >2<:?8 DFC6 H6 2C6 H@C<:?8 :? 4=@D6 4@?46CE H:E9 5:DEC:3FE:@? 724:=:E:6D 2?5 DE2E6 286?4:6D[” v6@C86 D2:5] “(6 ?665 FE:=:E:6D 2?5 DE2E6 286?4:6D E@ F?56CDE2?5 H96? H6 ?665 E@ 42== 7@C 4@?D6CG2E:@? 677@CED H6 2C6 2D<:?8 7@C >@C6 E92? H6 H@F=5 92G6 5@?6 :? E96 A2DE] (6 H2?E E@ >2<6 DFC6 H6 2C6 2== 4@@C5:?2E65]”k^Am
kAm$JDE6> @A6C2E@CD FD65 E9C66 H:?E6C D46?2C:@D E@ AC65:4E E9:D H:?E6C’D D:EF2E:@?i =2DE H:?E6C H96? E96C6 H6C6 ?@ 6IEC6>6 E6>A6C2EFC6Dj E96 H:?E6C @7 a_`f\`g H:E9 2 >:=5 7@C642DE 3FE H:E9 2 `b\52J 4@=5 D?2A[ 2?5 E96 H:?E6C @7 a_`b\`c H:E9 D6G6C2= 4@=5\H62E96C DEC6E496D :?4=F5:?8 @?6 =2DE:?8 `_ 4@?D64FE:G6 52JD]k^Am
kAm&?56C E96 2?2=JD:D[ x$~ @77:4:2=D 2?E:4:A2E6 C6=:23=6 DJDE6> @A6C2E:@?D H:E9@FE 6>6C86?4J AC@465FC6D H:E9 >:=5 4@?5:E:@?D D:>:=2C E@ =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAmx7 E96 H62E96C :D D:>:=2C E@ a_`f\`g[ E96C6 H@F=5 36 =:>:E65 6>6C86?4J AC@465FC6D[ H9:=6 2 H:?E6C D:>:=2C E@ a_`b\`c H@F=5 C6BF:C6 2== 2G2:=23=6 6>6C86?4J AC@465FC6D]k^Am
kAm~77:4:2=D D2:5 E96J 5@ ?@E 2?E:4:A2E6 2?J 6>6C86?4J 24E:@?D :7 86?6C2E@CD 92G6 256BF2E6 7F6= DFAA=:6D 2?5 E96C6 2C6 ?@ 86?6C2E@C @C EC2?D>:DD:@? @FE286D]k^Am
kAmk6>mv2CCJ #2J?@ >2J 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>Qm82CCJ]C2J?@oJ29@@]4@>k^2m]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.