2026 New England Power Grid
The region鈥檚 wholesale electricity marketplace is securing reliable electricity at competitive prices and helping usher in a cleaner, greener grid.
A Major Energy Transformation Is Underway
New England has shifted away from older coal- and oil-fired generation to natural gas.
2005 Energy Resources
Most of today鈥檚 electricity production comes from lower-emitting energy resources.
2025 Energy Resources
Charts show the amount of electricity produced by generators in New England and imported from other regions to satisfy all residential, commercial, and industrial customer demand in New England. This is called Net Energy for Load (NEL).
The region is transitioning to large-scale clean and renewable energy.
Looking to the Future
Battery storage technologies are the majority of resource proposals, over 6,300 MWs and 46% of total
Wind power accounts for the 2nd largest share of new resource proposals, 44% of the queue and over 6,100 new MWs
Solar power is growing rapidly: ISO-NE forecasts over 14,300 MW total within a decade
New longer-term transmission planning process provides an avenue for the states to evaluate and finance transmission upgrades needed to achieve their energy and environmental policy goals
Generator Emissions Have Declined with the Changing Resource Mix
New England Generator Air Emissions 2001 vs. 2024
Wholesale Electricity Prices Vary
Year-to-Year
Fuel costs are a key driver of electric prices.
* The Hub is a collection of 32 locations in New England used to represent an uncongested price for electric energy.
** 2025 data are subject to adjustments.
Electrification Will Drive Electricity Demand
In New England, demand for electricity peaks in the summer (record: 28,130 MW, August 2006); a smaller peak occurs in the winter (record: 22,818 MW, January 2004).
While state-sponsored energy-efficiency (EE) and behind-the-meter solar photovoltaic (PV) programs have slowed growth, the ISO forecasts that both energy usage and peak demand will increase in New England over the next 10 years. The primary factors for this increase are the new electrification forecasts for electric vehicles and air-source heat pumps.
Summer and Winter 50/50 Net Peak Forecast
New England Has Nearly 30,000 Megawatts (MW) of Installed Electricity Generating Capacity
Changes to the interconnection process improve integration of new resources.
Generation Retirements
The power generation resource mix is transitioning to a fleet powered by natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy. Older resources exiting the markets must be offset by the entry of new ones, especially if system demand grows as forecast.
Proposed Generation
Developers have proposed 13,966 MW of new generating resources as of January 2026.
ISO-NE is evaluating the NESCOE-directed 2025 Longer-Term Transmission Planning Request for Proposals, which aims to increase transfer limits through Maine and accommodate the interconnection of 1,200 megawatts of new generation in northern Maine to the regional power grid. The ISO is evaluating transmission proposals and a preferred solution may be selected by September 2026.
Imported Power
On an annual basis, New England is generally a net importer of electricity via interconnections with neighboring power systems in New York, Qu茅bec, and New Brunswick.
Percentage of net energy from imports
| 16% 2021 |
14% 2022 |
13% 2023 |
9% 2024 |
7% 2025 |
Merchant transmission companies, electric utilities, and renewable energy developers are proposing several projects to deliver low- or non-carbon-emitting resources into the New England market, totaling approximately 10,600 MW.
Wind Power
Roughly 1,700 MW of wind power capacity exists in the region. Developers are proposing over 6,000 MW of additional wind power, primarily offshore in southern New England.
Solar Power
Adding renewable resources will help displace fossil-fueled resources and help achieve state policy objectives. This will require fast-responding resources like grid-scale energy storage to help balance the variability of renewables.
See also: New England Power Grid State Profiles