Three leaders from the energy field highlighted the state of energy in the region and its impact on North Shore businesses during the monthly Business Insight Breakfast Series on Oct. 4.
The panelists for the forum, held at at Misselwood at Endicott College, were: Max Bergeron, manager, stakeholder relations at Enbridge; Jay Borkland, director of Ports and Supply Chain at Avangrid; and Melissa Lavinson, Head of Corporate Affairs, New England, at National Grid.
The three discussed the transition to a clean-energy future and address climate change and how to maintain affordability for businesses and residents while doing so.
Massachusetts has set an ambitious agenda to meet its net zero goals for a clean energy future, Lavinson said, and it is expected that there will be a significant rise in the demand for electricity in the next 25 years with the transition to electric vehicles, EV chargers, heat pumps and smart building design.
New investments in network infrastructure, grid resilience, technology, demand forecasting and customer programs will require multifaceted coordination at state and local levels, with end-users expecting an energy network that is ready-to-go, when and where needed, she said.
National Grid is taking action to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions and deliver the fair, affordable and clean energy future to 2.3 million customers in more than 240 towns and cities, she added. Their goal is to fully emission-free by 2050.
Enbridge has the same goal, Bergeron said. By 2030, it hopes to have reduced emissions intensity by 35 percent.
Bergeron also discussed “Project Maple,” a plan to upgrade the Algonquin Gas Transmission line. This pipeline runs from northern New Jersey through parts of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and into Massachusetts. Part of Salem and Beverly will be impacted when the project begins, which isn’t expected until about 2029.
Enbridge has said that through expanding gas capacity on the pipeline, Project Maple will help stabilize gas prices and increase electric reliability.
Avangrid is the world’s third largest wind operator in the United States, Borkland said. The company will be the initial tenant of the Salem Off Shore Wind Terminal, which is expected to be completed in the next few years. The groundbreaking venture will act as a catalyst for marine and maritime activities throughout the region, Borkland said.
It will create an influx of career opportunities for the area, he said, in numerous industries, including engineering, maritime and marine, and contractors and crews who will build and operate the wind farm, Borkland said.
VIEW National Grid’s slide presentation
VIEW Enbridge’s slide presentation
VIEW Avangrid’s slide presentation
Please click below to view Avangrid’s video presentation highlighting their offshore wind efforts in Massachusetts.