Press Releases
01/30/2026
DEEP Announces 2026 Zero Carbon Request for Proposals
Through this RFP, CT Will Coordinate with Other New England States to Procure Carbon Free Resources in Order to Save Ratepayers Money and Improve Electric Reliability
(HARTFORD)-The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) released a final Request for Proposals (RFP) today seeking proposals to provide zero carbon electric power from nuclear, hydropower, solar, onshore wind and associated transmission, and/or paired and co-located energy storage systems to diversify the state’s energy sources, improve electric reliability, and save ratepayers money. Through this RFP, DEEP will coordinate with other New England states that also are interested in potentially procuring these resources. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine, and Vermont, or their respective utilities, have expressed interest in participating under their states’ relevant authorities.
In 2018, DEEP issued an RFP for zero carbon resources that resulted in contracts with the existing Millstone Nuclear Power Plant and Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant. At the time, wholesale energy prices were at historic lows and nuclear generating facilities were shutting down across the nation. By signing a contract with the Millstone facility, Connecticut prevented the premature retirement of that facility, which would have threatened regional reliability, particularly during the winter, and cost New England ratepayers hundreds of millions to over one billion dollars to replace. As of 2025, Connecticut’s contracts with the Millstone and Seabrook facilities have saved Connecticut ratepayers an estimated $153 million, from reselling the facilities’ energy and environmental attributes back into the market. Revenues earned on the contracts in 2025 are expected to help lower the Public Benefits Charge in 2026, providing needed relief to ratepayers. These contracts are set to expire in 2029.
“Increasing our energy supply is key to improving affordability and enabling economic growth in Connecticut,” said Governor Ned Lamont. “Competitive procurements, in partnership with other states in the region, help ensure we get the best deal for ratepayers and that the costs of our region’s grid are fairly shared.”
“This request for proposals builds on our success in recent years working with regional partners to advance our shared interests in an affordable, reliable power grid,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “This procurement will leverage opportunities to access new affordable clean energy resources, including resources enabled by regional investments in transmission, while providing opportunities for—and competition from—existing resources to help ensure Connecticut has the affordable, reliable power supply we need.”
Since the 2018 RFP, energy market prices have increased and nuclear generating facilities are now expected to remain profitable going forward in the market. While the risk of retirement of existing nuclear facilities has receded, Connecticut is releasing today’s RFP to identify potential contracts with new and/or existing clean energy resources that can operate as a financial hedge against rising power generation costs in the future, especially as the ISO New England plans significant changes to the region’s capacity market in 2028 that could increase costs. Through this RFP, DEEP will be seeking proposals that can provide more affordable and stable electric rates for Connecticut ratepayers.
This RFP continues a growing practice of multi-state procurements in New England. In December 2025, DEEP announced it selected 173 MW of solar projects with Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont. This Zero Carbon RFP will seek to leverage the collective buying power of the five participating states to secure needed resources, and ensure the costs and benefits of grid investments are more equitably shared. Recognizing that Connecticut’s current nuclear contracts provide benefits not just to Connecticut but to the entire region, Connecticut Public Act 24-38 requires that the costs of any new Connecticut procurement of existing nuclear generation be shared by at least two other states.
The Zero Carbon RFP also serves as the vehicle for Connecticut to coordinate with Maine and other states on an RFP recently issued by the Maine Public Utilities Commission seeking proposals for onshore wind generation in Northern Maine and accompanying transmission. Working together on this procurement, which would be facilitated by new regional transmission investments, presents another opportunity for multistate collaboration that can improve grid reliability and drive down electric prices for Connecticut ratepayers.
DEEP will hold a virtual bidders conference on this RFP on February 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM EPT. A registration link is available here. DEEP will accept bids in response to this RFP through February 27, 2026, at 11:59 PM EPT for projects also bidding into the Maine RFP, and through March 17, 2026, at 12:00 PM EPT for all other bids. Additional information is available in the accompanying notice released by DEEP.- Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110