FERC is an independent federal agency that regulates and oversees ISO New England’s activities. ISOs were formed at the recommendation of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Right now, those rules give a leg up to older, dirtier energy sources and make it harder for cleaner sources to provide electricity. Those rules influence what types of energy power our electric grid. ISO New England makes the rules for buying and selling energy in New England. ISO New England is the system operator for the New England region, which includes Massachusetts, as well as Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and most of Maine. Independent System Operators (or “ISOs”) are independent, not-for-profit organizations that manage, monitor, and plan the day-to-day operations of regional energy systems. Keeping electricity flowing across Massachusetts requires a lot of coordination. Dirty fossil fuels cost Massachusetts residents more in pollution, health harms, and climate impacts. Whether our energy system uses clean energy or fossil fuels matters. Wind, solar, and other renewable resources provide a small, but quickly growing share, of the region’s generation.