New England Governors Push Pro-Nuclear Agenda Amid Growing Renewable Momentum

On Sept. 30, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey will hold a pro-nuclear summit at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, bringing together the six New England governors to promote advanced nuclear reactors. The event is expected to attract large protests led by the Clamshell Alliance, a group that has opposed nuclear power since the 1970s. Critics note that new nuclear plants require a decade or more to become operational and that small modular reactors remain largely theoretical.

They argue that renewable sources such as solar and wind, paired with storage, can be deployed immediately and at a fraction of nuclear’s cost. The piece also highlights the long-standing issues of nuclear waste, high construction expenses, and the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. It urges governors to prioritize proven clean-energy solutions rather than revisiting a technology deemed unsafe and financially risky.