Connecticut will join neighboring New England states to host a regional policy summit on advanced nuclear technologies.
Governor Ned Lamont announced that the state will be involved in the 2026 New England Regional Nuclear Policy Summit. Other regional states, such as Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, will also be part of the event. It will be held at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy in Massachusetts.
The one-day summit will take place Sept. 30 and will explore the region’s energy system and the potential role of nuclear technology. Public and private sector experts have been invited to discuss how the region could use the technology to support long-term energy affordability and zero-carbon energy.
Lamont said the state has been a leader in nuclear energy. He said Connecticut wants to work to deliver affordable, reliable, and clean energy for ratepayers. Lamont said the summit will also address safety, regulatory oversight, community engagement, and public trust.
“As we work to meet New England’s growing energy needs and make energy more affordable, this summit is an opportunity for stakeholders and communities across the region to learn more about the potential for new advanced nuclear technologies to contribute to our grid,” Lamont said.
Leadership from the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will represent Connecticut at the summit. DEEP Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino said Connecticut has explored the opportunities of advanced nuclear energy technologies through a series of public workshops with Connecticut residents.
“DEEP is committed to continuing this open dialogue with Connecticut communities and our New England sister states to explore the potential role of advanced nuclear technologies in helping meet our region’s clean energy needs safely, reliably, and affordably,” Cimino said.
Connecticut's participation in the summit aligns with the initiatives outlined in a statement from New England governors released last year. In it, the governors call for continued operation of the region’s existing nuclear power plants and research into advanced nuclear and fusion energy technologies.
Connecticut passed a law in 2025, which allows municipalities to “opt in” to hosting advanced nuclear facilities through local approval. The law directed DEEP to establish an Advanced Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Funding Program, which includes planning, technical analysis, and community engagement. The program was backed by $5 million in bond authorizations.
Connecticut is home to the Millstone Nuclear Power Station and Electric Boat, a U.S. Navy Submarine base operating nuclear-powered vessels.
Earlier this week, Lamont and other Connecticut officials expressed opposition to a proposed merger between NextEra Energy, which owns the Seabrook nuclear power plant in New Hampshire, and Dominion Energy, which owns the Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Connecticut. If combined, the $67 billion merger would mean the company would operate the largest natural gas generation fleet in the country and the second-largest nuclear operator nationally.
