New England governors commit to exploring advanced nuclear energy

Tim Dunn, Boston Herald on Mar 31, 2026

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All six New England governors to outline a regional commitment to explore advanced nuclear energy technologies and to continue supporting existing facilities.

A joint statement issued Tuesday by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott outlined next steps for what the group says is to “strengthen the region’s energy reliability, affordability, and long-term supply.”

“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 governors said in the 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 governors added.

In a two-step approach, the governors are calling on state energy offices to work collaboratively on ensuring the “continued safe, affordable, and reliable operation” of existing nuclear facilities while also exploring steps to deploy advanced nuclear generation in willing states and communities.

The hunt for advanced nuclear generation would be done with consultation from ISO New England, the federal government, and state, regional, and industry stakeholders.

The governors warn that electric consumption in New England is expected to skyrocket over the next two decades.

“According to ISO New England, electricity consumption in New England is expected to increase more than 40% over the next 20 years. Demand for electricity in the winter is expected to grow the fastest. ISO New England’s latest forecast shows that winter peak demand is projected to double by 2045,” the governors said. “We must work together to meet this growing demand through an approach that ensures we have the resources needed to fuel our economies and protect our citizens.”

The Fiscal Alliance Foundation says the move by New England’s governors is a step in the right direction, calling it “necessary but incomplete” in terms of solving regional energy affordability issues.

“Focusing on nuclear is the right move. Our recent study of New England’s energy grid shows that nuclear and natural gas are the only sources capable of delivering reliable baseload power while achieving emissions reductions in a comparably cost-effective way. But simply adding nuclear to the mix will not solve the region’s energy crisis unless policymakers also start unwinding the radical policies that have driven costs up and made the grid less reliable,” said Paul Craney, executive director of the Fiscal Alliance Foundation.

“State alternative energy mandates under the NetZero by 2050 climate law are projected to cause electricity in New England to become unreliable and expensive, forcing ratepayers to subsidize projects that deliver intermittent and overbuilt power. When these completed projects expire, they should not be renewed, and instead practical measures should be taken to invest in baseload power sources like nuclear and gas,” Craney said.

The shift in focus to nuclear energy by the governors follows a report that New England ratepayers would save an estimated $400-$700 billion by replacing planned offshore wind and solar projects in the region with natural gas and nuclear power.

The study, Alternatives to New England’s Energy Affordability Crisis, estimated the economic effects of meeting the region’s energy needs through 2050 with nuclear and natural gas plants — modeling the cost of energy portfolios in the six New England states to reflect the result of decarbonization plans in the Independent System Operator of New England.

In a surprising turn, Healey and Ayotte are signing onto the statement together as the two have engaged in a contentious back and forth over several issues both national and regional — like the nationwide immigration crackdown, affordability issues, and outmigration to New Hampshire and other “tax haven” states, and more.

Healey joins her fellow New England governors in issuing the joint statement as Massachusetts has seen soaring energy costs during Healey’s tenure and as state lawmakers continue to enforce strict climate policies related to the Net Zero by 2050 mandate.

Republican candidates for governor continue to blame Healey for the higher energy costs, as they seek to topple Healey this election year. The issue of energy costs has contributed, in part, to substantial outmigration of residents and businesses from Massachusetts.

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