Building the grid of the future depends on strong collaboration at every level. These ongoing conversations and partnerships help ensure the grid continues to keep pace with a growing and evolving region.
Last week, I had the opportunity to moderate a panel at the 2026 Regional Plan Association Assembly on The Grid of the Future sponsored by Con Edison. Modernizing the grid is a complex undertaking that depends on thoughtful investment, coordinated planning, and strong collaboration from a wide range of stakeholders. Thanks to Houtan Moaveni, Michael Richter, Ellen Zuckerman, and the Honorable Andrew Zwicker who shared insights into how we can work together to support continued advancement of the grid. During the panel, we covered: 💡 The need for an integrated approach: Meeting this challenge will require the full range of solutions across grid management, policymaking, regulation, and innovative technologies to move the grid forward. 💡 Growing demand: How rapidly growing demand, including from widespread building electrification and large loads and data centers, is changing the planning landscape and underscoring the need for creative solutions. 💡 Energy affordability: The ever-present need to stay focused on affordability for customers and think holistically about the contributors that impact customer bills, including supply costs, taxes and fees, and utility expenses. Thank you to Regional Plan Association for continuing to cultivate meaningful convenings like this one, and to the panelists for their great work and engagement! These are critical conversations as we work across sectors to help ensure that the grid can continue to support a growing, evolving region. You can view the full recording here: https://lnkd.in/eqePz5cp