In its responses, first for the Integrated Resource Plan: Acadia Center focused on reiterating the importance of looking at the modeling highlighted in Acadia Center and CATF’s paper on future load growth in the region; the importance of grid flexibility to meet growth with demand-side resources; the recommendation for a technical potential study for energy efficiency; encouraging the inclusion of long duration energy storage, storage retrofits, and thermal storage in modeling; and, Acadia Center discouraged the use of clean hydrogen or biofuels for power considerations (aside from biofuels being used in very niche circumstances, with the caveat that methane produced specifically for power should not be relied on).
As for commentary regarding transmission issues, Acadia Center recommended DEEP look into the Longer-Term Transmission Planning process for guidance on how to evaluate state transmission planning; to look to interregional modeling done by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to inform its own modeling; Acadia Center emphasized the importance of an establishment of an Independent Transmission Monitor, and asked the state to establish a requirement for transmission congestion reporting under a $4.3 million annual threshold; Acadia Center strongly aligned with the need to reform the asset condition project approval process, and, Acadia Center aligned with the need to push incentivization for Advanced Transmission Technologies.
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