2025 Event Series: Transitioning to the Future Grid

MassCEC / Net Zero Grid / Future Grid Event Series

The “Future Grid” is an electric grid that enables a decarbonized energy system and supports:

• Massachusetts' 2050 climate goals
• High levels of reliability, resilience, efficiency and flexibility
• An equitable energy transition
• Pathways for innovative solutions

...but how do we get there?

MassCEC, in partnership with Alliance for Climate Transition (ACT), will hold the 2025 edition of the Future Grid Event Series. It will explore critical electric grid topics, centering conversation around the context of the Commonwealth’s energy future. This year’s Future Grid Event Series will feature convenings on:

• Balancing Data Center Energy Use with Climate Goals (May 21 at Foley Hoag): This event explored the future of data centers specifically in Massachusetts, with panels on Understanding Data Center Loads and Defining the Challenge for MA; Emerging Technology Solutions & Opportunities; and Policy & People Perspective. An event report is under development and will be released in June 2025. See below for more information.
• An Equitable Distributed Energy Future (June 26 at UMass Lowell): The future electric grid will host large numbers of distributed energy resources (DERs), of all sizes. The arrival of DERs means that generation and response can now come from the load side of the system – this requires us to navigate a big change in how the grid works. DERs also deliver an opportunity to create an equitable future energy system: one that is resilient, that generates local, distributed wealth, and that contributes to energy affordability.
  As we approach the changes to the energy system caused by DERs, how do we ensure that equity is one of the pillars we lay today for DERs and the grid? How do we ensure access to and benefits from DERs and the grid for historically disadvantaged communities?
  This half-day event will explore two key building blocks for an equitable electric grid in Massachusetts:
  1. Emerging DER ownership models.
  2. How the utilities and our grid can create the foundation needed for the coupled objectives of community empowerment, affordability, and resiliency.
• Grid-edge flexibility (October 3 at the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston): This event will explore where the grid edge in Massachusetts is today and the vision for how grid edge flexibility will shape the Commonwealth’s energy future. We will discuss how the State and utilities are planning for grid edge flexibility, the emerging technologies needed, and how to support the evolving role of the customer equitably.

This event series provides a unique opportunity for a diverse group of individuals to come together and collaborate on issues related to the power grid. Each event will convene public and private sector stakeholders from across the Massachusetts energy ecosystem, including:

• Utility regulators
• Advocacy groups
• Utilities -- both investor-owned and municipal
• Grid technology providers and entrepreneurs
• Community-based organizations and municipal leaders
• Academic institutions

The series will feature the exploration of how the transition will impact certain communities, emerging technology and innovation solutions, and navigating the path forward. Each event will feature both informational presentations and panels of experts, and opportunities for building new cross-sector relationships and developing ideas in small-group stakeholder dialogue.