Gov. Maura Healey is keeping the potential of nuclear power in her sights, announcing Wednesday that she plans to host other New England governors next month to explore how advanced nuclear and fusion energy technologies might be able to lower energy bills.
There has been a recent revival of interest in nuclear power among Massachusetts policymakers as the offshore wind industry that Democrats here have long promised is both floundering and out of favor with the Trump administration.
Healey has proposed eliminating the 1982 voter law that requires proposed new nuclear facilities in Massachusetts to secure approval of a majority of voters through a statewide ballot initiative and that is one of many energy ideas embroiled in ongoing House-Senate conference committee negotiations.
The Sept. 30 gathering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy follows a joint statement that Healey and the other five New England governors issued in April expressing a commitment to “safeguarding our collective energy future through advancement of a diverse energy strategy that includes nuclear power.” UMass Lowell also worked with the Healey administration starting last fall to develop advanced nuclear and fusion energy roadmaps to guide the state’s consideration of the technologies.
The governors this spring directed state energy offices to take steps to protect existing nuclear generation facilities (in Connecticut and New Hampshire) and to “explore deployment of advanced nuclear generation in states and communities that express a willingness to host such resources.”
“New England states share an energy grid, and we’re stronger when we work together to plan for our region’s future,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said. “As demand for electricity grows, we need to be looking ahead at new technologies that can help us bring more reliable affordable energy to our residents and businesses. This summit will bring together leaders from across the region to share ideas, ask important questions and explore what advanced nuclear and fusion could mean for New England.”
Healey’s announcement Wednesday did not say which other governors plan to attend the summit, but it did include supportive quotes from Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee. It also noted that the New England states “are also exploring potential investment models for advanced nuclear and fusion energy technologies” with support from the National Governors Association.
There’s fresh interest in nuclear power at the federal level, too. On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it will host an event in Washington D.C., tied to the launch of the Atomic Technologies Licensed for Applications at Sea (ATLAS) initiative. That’s an effort, the department said, “to advance the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies in the maritime sector, including civil nuclear-powered ships and floating nuclear power plants.”