Dive Brief:

• Governors of New England states have agreed to work together to expand the region's transmission and natural gas pipeline infrastructure.
• Utilities and consumer advocates generally support the move, although they are waiting to see more details.
• Infrastructure projects could be financed by the New England States Committee on Electricity.

Dive Insight:

New England's power plant fleet has become increasingly dominated by gas-fired resources, but natural gas pipeline capacity has not kept pace. New England has high electric and natural gas prices so more pipeline and transmission connections to Canada and other parts of the Northeast could help drive prices down while providing increased reliability.

“To ensure a reliable, affordable and diverse energy system, we need investments in additional energy efficiency, renewable generation, natural gas pipelines, and electric transmission,” the governors said. “These investments will also serve to balance intermittent generation, reduce peak demand, and displace some of the least efficient and most polluting fossil fuel generation.”