With rising natural gas use, growing renewables, New England grid operator to provide update

New England's power grid operator is set to provide an update on the region's power system.

Gordon van Welie, (van WEE'-lee) president and chief executive officer of ISO-New England, the region's Massachusetts-based power grid operator, will brief the media Wednesday about the state of New England's power grid that serves more than 14 million residents.

Power plants are increasingly relying on natural gas as coal- and oil-fired plants and nuclear generators are being retired. At the same time, renewable energy and decentralized power sources, while small, are growing.

Utility executives and officials are warning that the lack of natural gas pipelines in New England threatens to drive up prices. Connecticut and Rhode Island regulators have approved electricity rate increases due to rising natural gas demand and the need to account for higher costs.