04/30/2026
DEEP To Hold Third Public Informational Workshop to Explore New Nuclear Energy Capacity in Connecticut May 13th
Workshop is the Third in a Series of Public Informational Workshops DEEP Will Host to Increase Awareness and Understanding About New Nuclear Technologies
(HARTFORD) -The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) will hold the third in a series of public informational workshops with nationally recognized experts on key issues involved in new nuclear development on Wednesday, May 13, from 3:00-5:30 PM.
This meeting will provide an overview of fusion technologies, and will feature national experts including Dr. Patrick White, Group Lead of Safety and Regulation at the Clean Air Task Force. Alongside this meeting, DEEP also will be accepting public comments on these topics until May 27 at 4:00 PM.
This is the third workshop under an informational process DEEP announced last year to explore new nuclear energy capacity in Connecticut. This informational process is intended to foster engagement and gather input from diverse perspectives on critical aspects of nuclear energy development. These workshops are designed to assist municipalities and inform policy makers about the potential for hosting new nuclear capacity in the state. Advanced nuclear reactors, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), fusion machines, and other advanced designs, are gaining considerable national interest as a potential source of safe, firm, dispatchable, carbon-free generation.
This workshop will focus specifically on fusion energy, an emerging technology that has attracted growing national and international interest because of its potential to provide safe, firm, carbon-free electricity. Fusion machines do not rely on the same process as traditional nuclear fission reactors and have different fuel cycles, waste streams, and safety characteristics. Fusion is widely viewed as one of the most potentially transformative energy technologies under development because it could provide abundant, around-the-clock electricity with a small land footprint and without the air pollution or greenhouse gas emissions associated with fossil fuels. While significant technical and economic challenges remain before commercial deployment, recent scientific breakthroughs and increased public and private investment have accelerated interest in fusion as a possible long-term component of a reliable, affordable, and carbon-free energy system.
“Fusion technologies have the potential to become a transformational source of always-on, carbon-free energy, and Connecticut wants to be prepared to evaluate those opportunities thoughtfully and responsibly,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “By bringing national experts together with Connecticut communities and stakeholders, we can help ensure that residents and policymakers have the information they need to make informed decisions about the role these technologies may play in our energy future.”
The third public informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 13thth from 3:00 PM-5:30 PM as a hybrid meeting with both in-person and remote attendance options. In person attendance will be at the Gina McCarthy Auditorium at DEEP’s Headquarters, located at 79 Elm Street in Hartford, CT. To attend online, register by May 12, 2026, via Zoom.
More information on this workshop can be found at DEEP’s Energy Filings website under Public Act 25-173 - Section 34 - Informational Process to Explore New Nuclear Energy Capacity in Connecticut
Future workshop topics and logistical information will be posted on DEEP’s Public Notices website.
About Public Act 25-173 and the upcoming Nuclear Site Readiness Funding program
In 2026, DEEP intends to issue a Request for Information to seek input from the public about the optimal framework and approach to utilize in a future Request for Proposals as part of Connecticut’s Advanced Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Funding Program. Section 34 of Public Act No. 25-173 directs DEEP to establish the program, with up to $5 million in bond authorization to support funding through grants or loans for site readiness activities for advanced nuclear reactors in the state.
DEEP will build on the information and dialogue fostered in the informational workshops to develop and implement the Site Readiness Funding Program. The central purpose of that program will be to provide any interested communities with technical expertise, funding, and resources to consider new nuclear opportunities, including a wide variety of nuclear technologies.
Go here to view the Notice of Proceeding.- Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.Communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110