Reliable and affordable electricity is the life blood of a healthy, thriving Tri-State Region. Yet, as demand for power continues to rapidly increase - driven by AI and cloud computing, as well as building and auto electrification - and prospects for new, clean energy supply, like offshore wind, are diminishing, utility rates are reaching levels that are increasingly unaffordable to more and more residents and businesses. At the same time, necessary upgrades to the grid to modernize it, make it more resilient, and better interconnected, are facing obstacles including long permitting times, increased caution driven by uncertainty around renewables, and fierce local opposition. Faced with such challenges at a critical moment in time, it can be hard to imagine the grid of the future. But we must.

To consider this crucial topic, we will convene a panel of experts with knowledge and experience in grid management, regulation, and innovation to consider how we can invest in upgrading the grid today in ways that ensure more reliable, clean and affordable energy solutions going forward and in the face of federal obstruction?