As more people in Maine and New England buy heat pumps and electric vehicles, power grid operator ISO New England expects electricity use in the region to grow by about 9 percent over the next decade, according to a report released on May 1. While this latest annual forecast still predicts overall growth, the projections are more conservative than in recent years, in large part due to changes in federal government policies on climate change and energy. Last year, ISO New England had projected about 11 percent growth in electricity demand over the next decade. But regardless of the pivot at the federal level, Maine’s state-level energy efficiency goals and programs remain intact, according to those programs’ administrator, the Efficiency Maine Trust.The projected growth for the New England power grid would reverse the past two decades’ trend of falling electricity use as heating and cooling systems, lighting and appliances all grew more energy-efficient. Demand for electricity from the grid also fell as people installed solar panels that generate power “behind the meter.”
“We’ve had years of relatively flat demand, and that’s thanks to states in the region making real investments in energy efficiency measures. But looking ahead to the future, there is going to be a shift,” said Mary Cate Colapietro, a spokesperson for ISO New England.
