CONCORD, NH - On Tuesday, Governor Kelly Ayotte joined a bipartisan group of New England Governors in a joint statement in support of exploring advanced nuclear energy technologies and continuing to support the region's existing nuclear facilities.

"We need to keep working to bring affordable, reliable energy to our entire region in order to lower Granite Staters' electric bills," said Governor Ayotte. "As New Hampshire lays the groundwork for next-generation nuclear power in our state, I am glad to join fellow New England Governors in supporting the development of this pivotal technology across our region."

The statement outlines two key next steps:

• New England Governors are directing their state energy offices to explore opportunities to ensure existing nuclear generation facilities continue to operate in a safe, affordable, and reliable manner.
• The Governors are also directing state energy agencies to take steps to explore deployment of advanced nuclear generation in states and communities willing to host such resources, including: exploring innovative financing structures, federal funding and financial support opportunities, public-private partnerships, and regulatory designs for advanced nuclear energy that will protect consumers, help meet regional energy needs, and enable job growth and economic development opportunities in the advanced nuclear technology sector.

The Governors reiterated their commitment to ensuring local voices shape decision-making from the outset, including community-led approaches to explore appropriate, responsible locations for new nuclear development. Read the full joint statement here.

Governor Ayotte issued an Executive Order on March 26 directing the New Hampshire Department of Energy to bring together lawmakers, industry experts, and other stakeholders to develop a roadmap for next-generation nuclear power in the Granite State.

The Governor has made lowering Granite Staters' electric bills and reducing energy costs a critical priority of her administration. Last week, ISO New England confirmed it would fast-track market rule changes to reduce unnecessary costs after Governor Ayotte sent a letter urging them to take quick action to help lower electric bills. On March 4, the Governor's nominee to chair the Public Utilities Commission, Chris Ellms, was confirmed by the Executive Council with affordability as a "top priority".