Connecticut is joining Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont to host a regional policy summit on advanced nuclear energy on September 30, 2026, according to Governor Ned Lamont's office. The 2026 New England Regional Nuclear Policy Summit will bring together public and private sector experts at the University of Massachusetts Lowell to examine the potential for advanced nuclear and fusion technologies to support energy affordability, grid reliability, economic competitiveness, and zero-carbon energy.
The summit fulfills a directive made by New England governors earlier this year calling for exploration of advanced nuclear and fusion energy technologies. The governors directed state energy offices to host a regional convening to solicit input from the public and regional stakeholders.
Connecticut has positioned itself as a center of nuclear expertise. The state is home to the Millstone Nuclear Power Station and the U.S. Navy Submarine Base, and is home to Electric Boat, which is involved in modular construction of advanced nuclear submarines. Connecticut has existing contracts to purchase energy from Millstone and New Hampshire's Seabrook Station, which the state said has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in affordability benefits to Connecticut ratepayers.
In 2025, Connecticut enacted Public Act 25-173, which allows municipalities to approve hosting advanced nuclear facilities through local approval and created an Advanced Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Funding Program backed by $5 million in bond authorizations. Connecticut launched a statewide public engagement effort in December 2025 and has convened four public workshops with additional sessions planned for fall 2026.
Today, the Millstone and Seabrook nuclear power plants supply energy meeting approximately 20% to 25% of New England's power needs each year.