New England Legislators Call for ISO New England to Stop Undermining Renewables Immediately

Over 90 members of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL), from all six ISO New England states, call on the regional grid operators to eliminate the “minimum offer price rule” immediately. States included in the ISO New England market include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 

The minimum offer price rule makes it difficult or impossible for renewable energy resources to compete in ISO New England’s capacity market. It forces consumers to bear the costs of unneeded capacity and hinders states’ ability to take climate action to transition away from fossil fuel resources that drive climate change and harm New Englanders’ health. 

ISO New England has acknowledged that the rule is flawed, but wishes to extend it for at least two years. ISO-NE justifies the rule by claiming the need to ensure energy reliability. However, the rule actually protects gas plants and prices out renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind. Non-fuel resources like offshore wind have proved to be very reliable and can fill gaps caused by limited gas supplies in peak winter conditions. 

The unnecessary continuation of the minimum offer price rule (MOPR) increases costs for consumers by preventing low-cost renewable energy from freely competing in the market. It also hinders New England’s climate commitments by unfairly dampening the economic salience of renewables leading to increased emissions over time. 

“New England has a wealth of renewable energy resources – such as offshore wind – at our fingertips that can help mitigate climate change and bring consumers low-cost energy,” said Rhode Island State Senator Dawn Euer. “We’ve implemented the state policies needed to decarbonize and increase renewable energy. Yet, ISO New England is undermining our state authority and hindering the climate actions that our constituents elected us to take.”

States have authority over power generation, and New England states are committed to using this authority to decarbonize the electric system and address climate change. Each of these states have Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), which are laws to increase the proportion of electricity that comes from renewable resources. The MOPR directly undermines such state policies.

However, this authority and states’ commitments are now being threatened by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of ISO New England’s MOPR.

“ISO New England’s continuation of barriers for renewable energy will only result in keeping prices artificially high for consumers while perpetuating financial advantages for fossil fuels,” said Maine State Representative Vicki Doudera. “It’s critical for all states to take a very active role in ensuring the cost-effective adoption of more clean energy.” 

State legislators urge FERC to reverse this overreach and restore the balance of state and federal authority in the capacity market.  

This letter was spearheaded by Rhode Island Senator Dawn Euer and Maine Representative Vicki Doudera.

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Created by and for state legislators, the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes over 1,200 environmentally-committed state legislators from all 50 states and both parties. NCEL provides venues and opportunities for lawmakers to share ideas and collaborate on environmental issues.