CT part of northeast ‘policy summit’ on expansion of nuclear power in region. Called ‘an important statement’

The New England governors have taken another step toward a regional approach to the development of new nuclear power generation, with energy consumption across the region  forecast to rise and electric rates already political problem in all six states.

Gov. Ned Lamont said Connecticut will participate in a day-long regional nuclear policy summit north of Boston on Sept. 30 to expand on the governors’ joint commitment last spring to keep the region’s two existing nuclear plants in operation, while exploring the development of additional small modular or fusion reactors.

“Connecticut has been a leader in nuclear energy as part of our state’s all-of-the-above approach to delivering affordable, reliable, and clean energy for Connecticut ratepayers,” Lamont said Thursday. “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.”

A day earlier, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said “New England is home to some of the brightest minds and most innovative companies in the world, including leaders in advanced nuclear and fusion. This summit is about bringing people together, looking seriously at these technologies and how they can help lower bills and making sure out region is prepared to lead as our energy sector grows.”

The position taken by the governors, along with legislative enactments in Connecticut elsewhere, shows a new commitment to an energy future in which new nuclear generation is an energy component across New England.

Among other things, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is creating a $5 million Advanced Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Funding Program, to plan, provide technical analysis and ”engage” cities and towns on nuclear construction.

DEEP ran four community workshops this year and has more planned next year to measure local support for siting small modular reactors and to explore the implications for planning, siting and permitting. Under legislation authorizing the workshops, residents get final say over reactor siting.

Expanding the nuclear component of the region power generation mix has become something on which all sides in the energy price debate can agree at a time when political discussions are mired in claims about responsibility for electric rates.

“This is an important statement,” said Dan Dolan, president of the New England Power Generators Association. “An actual explicit, public unified statement across the region that we want to support existing nuclear and explore new. But the challenges of actually developing and building new in the region are pretty significant.”

In his statement announcing the September summit, Lamont pointed to Connecticut’s existing commitment to nuclear power, noting in particular the “large, educated, and experienced nuclear workforce” employed at the Millstone Nuclear Power Station in Waterford, the U.S. Navy Submarine base in Groton and at the Electric Boat, Division of General Dynamics, also in Groton, which builds the Navy’s nuclear powered submarine fleet.

The political focus on energy has shifted to nuclear power as the environmental lobby’s once fierce opposition has disappeared. With concern about nuclear waste and proliferation shifting to climate, zero carbon nuclear power has become an acceptable energy alternative.

Industry experts said any regional plan for nuclear generation will involve an advanced reactor design, either fusion or small modular, which are a fraction of the scale of the two reactors now operating in New England and the half dozen or so others that closed at the height of the environmental opposition.

“The small modular nuclear reactors are hoping to address a lot of the concerns and issues with traditional nuclear generation, which are it is very expensive and it takes many, many years, sometimes multiple decades to develop, construct and and operate,” said Justin Pelkowski, director of wholesale power contracting for Eversource, which supports the all-of-the-above solution to power generation now promoted by the governors.

“If you go to a smaller simpler design, you have lower costs and easier deployment,” he said.

The new, small reactor designs are not now commercially available, but are expected to be in near term. As production begins, price is expected to fall.

“They would be locally sited and permitted,” Pelkowski said. “But you would still most likely need some sort of long term (power purchase) contract to get those built. People would not be building them on spec. And ideally you would want to be doing probably some sort of joint planning by the states to determine where is the best location for these SMRs.”

The New England Regional Nuclear Policy Summit will take place at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy in Lowell, Massachusetts. The number of seats available to attend in-person is limited, however there is also an option to attend virtually.