Summertime Livin' Was Easy In New England — Thanks To Clean Energy - CleanTechnica

The article highlights how New England managed a record-breaking summer heat wave with the help of clean energy, avoiding widespread blackouts and high heat-related mortality. Despite temperatures soaring above 90°F, the region’s power grid remained stable largely due to substantial contributions from solar panels—providing up to 22% of the region’s power, nearly double the daily average—and offshore wind, which reached an 87% capacity factor during peak heat. These renewable sources, supported by decades of state-level investments in solar incentives, energy efficiency programs like MassSave, offshore wind projects, and battery storage, helped save consumers tens of millions of dollars during the hottest days. The article also emphasizes the economic and reliability benefits of behind-the-meter (BTM) solar, which saved ISO New England consumers at least $8.2 million on a single high-cost day, and the importance of battery storage and energy efficiency in managing peak demand. Interregional power imports further supported grid stability during peak hours. However, the region