Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont on March 31 announced that the governors of all six New England states have issued a joint statement outlining their regional commitment to exploring advanced nuclear energy technologies "while continuing to support the safe, affordable, and reliable operation of the region’s existing nuclear facilities."
The governors signing onto the joint statement include Lamont, Governor Janet Mills of Maine, Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Governor Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Governor Dan McKee of Rhode Island, and Governor Phil Scott of Vermont.
“Adequate electricity supply is critical to growing our economies, preserving public health and safety, powering our homes and businesses, and stabilizing consumer prices as demand for electricity rises across the region,” the New England governors said in the joint statement. “New England has a long tradition of collaborating on regional energy matters. As governors, we are committed to safeguarding our collective energy future through advancement of a diverse energy strategy that includes nuclear power, a pillar of New England’s electric system.”
The statement outlines two key next steps.
First, the governors are directing their respective state energy offices to explore opportunities to ensure the continued safe, affordable, and reliable operation of the region’s existing nuclear generation facilities in coordination with ISO New England, the facilities’ owners, federal agencies, and other state and regional stakeholders.
Second, the governors are directing state energy agencies to take steps to explore deployment of advanced nuclear generation in states and communities that express a willingness to host such resources.
This includes exploring innovative financing structures, federal funding and financial support opportunities, public-private partnerships, and regulatory designs for advanced nuclear energy that will protect consumers, help meet the region’s energy needs, and enable New England to capture job growth and economic development opportunities from the deployment of new nuclear technologies with advanced safety systems.
The governors "are reiterating their commitment to ensuring local voices shape decision-making from the outset, including community-led approaches to explore appropriate, responsible locations for new nuclear development," a news release noted.
Connecticut boasts a large, educated, and experienced nuclear workforce as home of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, the U.S. Navy Submarine base safely operating nuclear powered vessels, and Electric Boat, which is leading the modular construction of advanced nuclear submarines, Lamont's office said.
"Recognizing the benefits of clean firm nuclear power to Connecticut and the region, Connecticut has existing contracts to purchase energy from Millstone and New Hampshire’s Seabrook Station, which has helped ensure the facilities remain operational while providing hundreds of millions of dollars in affordability benefits to Connecticut ratepayers to date," the news release noted.
In 2025, Lamont and the Connecticut General Assembly further cemented Connecticut’s nuclear leadership by enacting Public Act 25-173, which creates a clear, community-driven pathway for advanced nuclear energy development. The law empowers municipalities to “opt in” to hosting advanced nuclear facilities through local approval, while also reaffirming the potential for new advanced nuclear generation at the Millstone site, Lamont's office said. It also directs the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to establish an Advanced Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Funding Program, backed by $5 million in bond authorizations, to support early planning, technical analysis, and community engagement.
DEEP launched a statewide public engagement effort in December 2025 to inform community leaders and residents, gather input, and shape design of the program, which DEEP plans to launch later this year. The agency has already convened two public workshops with additional sessions planned for spring 2026.
