Dive Brief:

• EquiPower Resources intends to retire the 1,500-MW Brayton Point power plant in 2017 as planned, even though ISO-New England has said the closure could hurt grid reliability.
• EquiPower decided to shut New England's second-largest power plant because of low natural gas prices, the cost of meeting pending environmental requirements and the plant's age.
• The ISO and transmission owners will have a plan in place to deal with the coal-fired power plant's retirement, according to the grid operator.

Dive Insight:

Several major New England power plants are being retired, including the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant and the Salem Harbor power plant. Add another one to the list.

Reliability issues related to the Brayton Point shutdown may be solved by a set of power line projects that have already received ISO approval and have been partly built. Also expect new natural gas-fired power plants to meet the region's growing power supply needs.