Efficiency and solar power means New England will see no growth – none – in need for electricity

A startling statement from ISO-New England, the folks who oversee the six-state New England electricpower grid:

With growing levels of photovoltaic (PV) and energy-efficiency (EE) resources, the 10-year forecast of demand shows the summer peak growing at 0.6% per year and no growth in total annual use of electric energy. Without PV and EE, the baseline forecast shows annual energy consumption would grow by 1% annually, and peak demand would grow by 1.3%.

For my entire life, growth in electricity use was required for growth in the economy. That’s no longer the case, which is – well, awesome. Unless you’re a regulated utility that is legally bound to make money only by selling electricity, that is.

The statement comes from ISO’s 2015 Regional System Plan, a sort of annual look-ahead, available on their website www.iso-ne.com/