(WATERFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz today were invited by executives and employees from Dominion Energy to visit the Millstone nuclear facility in Waterford to celebrate an agreement reached by Dominion and the state’s two electric utilities last month to keep the facility open for another decade. The shutdown of the plant would have exposed the New England region to a nearly 25 percent increase in carbon emissions, increased risk of rolling blackouts, billions of dollars in power replacement costs, and the loss of more than 1,500 well-paying jobs right here in Connecticut. The announcement of the agreement was accompanied by a commitment from all six New England governors to evaluate mechanisms that can value the reliability and clean energy benefits nuclear facilities provide to the entire region.
Millstone provides around-the-clock, zero-carbon, fuel-secure electricity that meets more than half of Connecticut’s electricity needs. The facility has 1,500 employees, and 92 percent of the full-time staff lives in New London County. They are also involved in local charities and non-profits, contributing more than 25,000 volunteer hours since 2013 and making $12 million in charitable donations since 2002, including a scholarship program at Three Rivers Community College. Millstone is Waterford’s top employer and taxpayer, representing 35 percent of the tax base and paying $29.7 million in local taxes.
“The premature loss of Millstone would have been awful for our state and region, spiking energy prices, reversing our progress on cutting carbon emissions, and endangering the reliability of the grid,” Governor Lamont said. “I want to thank the utilities for coming to the table to advance a better deal for Millstone’s power, cutting in half the incremental cost to Connecticut ratepayers of keeping the plant open for the next decade. I want to acknowledge all of the New England governors who have committed to working with us to look at ways we can value these types of facilities in the future. And I especially thank the women and men that make Millstone run safely and efficiently every day.”
“It is a great honor to work for a governor and a lieutenant governor whose leadership on climate and energy – in just the first 100 days – brings ambitious, bold policies that will have impacts for generations to come,” Department of Energy and Public Protection Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “Connecticut has a requirement for economy-wide greenhouse gas reductions of 45 percent below 2001 levels, and this administration is taking even more urgent action, with the goal of a carbon-free grid. Securing Millstone’s power for the next decade will protect grid reliability and climate progress as we work to develop new clean energy sources like solar, offshore wind, and energy efficiency.”
“On behalf of all my colleagues at Millstone Power Station, we thank Governor Lamont and the bipartisan coalition of legislators who allowed Millstone to compete successfully to provide affordable, carbon free electricity to power Connecticut for many years to come,” Thomas F. Farrell II, Chairman, President, and CEO, of Dominion Energy, said.
The agreement is pending review by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.