On Monday, March 31, Gov. Ned Lamont committed to advancing nuclear energy in a joint statement with governors Janet Mills of Maine, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Dan McKee of Rhode Island and Phil Scott of Vermont.
“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 governors said in their joint statment.
In Lamont’s press release, he discussed the history of nuclear power within the state of Connecticut.
“Connecticut boasts a large, educated, and experienced nuclear workforce as home of the Millstone Nuclear Power Station, the U.S. Navy Submarine base safety operating nuclear powered vessels, and Electric Boat…advanced nuclear submarines,” the press release said.
In the past, with the passing of Public Act 25-173 , Lamont and Connecticut have already committed to nuclear power. This bill called, “An Act Concerning Energy Affordability, Access and Accountability” allows for municipalities to have more control over their involvement with nuclear power, allowing for them to “opt in” to being able to host nuclear energy sites within their borders.
The press release writes that it, “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.”
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protections has also launched a statewide public engagement effort to allow the public to shape the design of the nuclear program. This program will be launched later this year according to the press release.
The agency has convened for two public workshops in 2026 already with more sessions planned according to the press release. It writes that this effort, “underscore[s] Connecticut’s commitment to transparency, local decision-making, and leadership in exploring next-generation reliable, carbon-free nuclear energy.”
These efforts will continue to be relevant due to the Eversource Energy 2026 Forcast of Loads and Resources, which states there is a projected increase in electrical demand in Connecticut of 0.9% more output of gigawatts per year. According to ISO New England, there is an expected 40% increase in electrical generational needs in New England. However, depending on how extreme the weather is, this number could fluctuate, especially with more extremely hot summers and cold win