One of the four pillars of the Roadmap is Community Engagement. This pillar has been at the forefront of the Roadmap effort thus far. After the initial announcement by the governor, informational sessions were held to introduce the Roadmap. Stakeholder engagement sessions were the next step in community involvement. These sessions included distinct stakeholder groups for focused dialogue. In March 2026, two webinars were held to share an overview of the Roadmap and preliminary findings. The most recent component of the Roadmap’s community engagement were three panel discussions focused on different topics raised throughout the process. To learn more about all of these efforts, see below.

UMass Lowell Professor Sukesh Aghara speaks at a podium next to 3 panelists. A Nuclear Roadmap Timeline graphic is behind them.

The informational sessions provided an overview of the Massachusetts Advanced Nuclear and Fusion Energy Roadmap and explained how stakeholders could participate in shaping it. These one-hour sessions introduced the roadmap’s objectives, background, and engagement process, offering a preview of the stakeholder listening sessions and opportunities to get involved in this statewide effort to advance clean, safe, and innovative energy technologies.

The sessions were held on November 18, November 20, December 2 and December 10, 2025.

As part of the Massachusetts Advanced Nuclear and Fusion Energy Roadmap, nine stakeholder engagement sessions were successfully completed between December 2025 and January 2026. Each session convened a distinct stakeholder group to enable focused dialogue on key issues including policy and regulation, infrastructure and grid integration, workforce development, research and innovation, financing, and community priorities.

Across these sessions, participants shared insights, identified opportunities and challenges, and provided feedback that is directly informing the development of the draft roadmap and its recommendations.

Stakeholder groups engaged included:

  • Community, equity, and environmental organizations
  • Large energy customers
  • Technology developers, startups, and industry
  • Local, state, and regional governments and regulatory bodies
  • Universities and research institutions
  • Community colleges and trade schools
  • Financial and investment community
  • Labor unions and workforce and trade associations
  • Utilities, ISO-New England, and energy companies

For those unable to attend a session, written comments and feedback were also accepted through the public Massachusetts Roadmap for Advanced Nuclear and Fusion Energy feedback form and are being incorporated alongside session input.

These webinars shared an overview of the draft Massachusetts (MA) Advanced Nuclear and Fusion Energy Roadmap and highlighted key themes emerging from the stakeholder engagement process. These one-hour sessions presented preliminary findings, summarized stakeholder input, and outlined considerations shaping the roadmap, along with next steps toward finalizing recommendations.

The sessions were held on March 3 and March 6, 2026.

Missed a Session?

If you were unable to attend, you can view the materials below.

  • MA Advanced Nuclear and Fusion Roadmap Preliminary Findings Slides (pdf)

This discussion series was created based on a number of important themes that were surfaced during earlier portions of the stakeholder engagement process. Some of these themes included safety, waste management, cost, workforce readiness, and public involvement. The discussions included participation from experts in academia, industry, government, and community organizations.

Discussion 1 – Nuclear and Fusion Ecosystem; Workforce, Innovation, and Supply Chain

  • Moderator: Melissa Lavinson
  • Panelists:
    • Jacopo Buongiorno, Professor and Director of Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Nuclear Reactor Laboratory
    • Kristen Cullen, Vice President of Global Public Policy and Public Affairs, Commonwealth Fusion Systems
    • Jason Seaburg, Executive Vice President, Suffolk
    • Stephen J. Auton-Smith, Senior Managing Director, EY-Parthenon Americas

A safe and sustainable nuclear future depends on a strong and coordinated ecosystem. This session explores workforce development across engineering, operations, and skilled trades, alongside innovation and supply chain opportunities. Panelists will highlight Massachusetts’ existing strengths, identify gaps and discuss how education, industry and small businesses can support a visible, connected and resilient nuclear and fusion ecosystem.

Discussion 2 – Technology, Markets, and Regulatory Environment

  • Moderator: Dave Flanagan, Deputy Executive Vice Chancellor, Facilities Management, UMass Chan Medical School
  • Panelists:
    • Alexander Bok, Former Senior Advisor at the US Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects-Energy Agency
    • Eric Johnson, Executive Director of External Affairs, Independent System Operator (ISO) New England
    • Cindy Luppi, Senior Director for State Policy and Program, Clean Water Action
    • Caitlin Peale Sloan, Vice President for Climate and Energy, Conservation Law Foundation
    • Mike Starrett, Chief Revenue Officer, Radiant

This session examined the current state and readiness of advanced nuclear fission and fusion technologies within the context of energy markets and regulatory frameworks. Discussions explored technology maturity, cost and timeline considerations, and the role of ISO-New England markets, federal and state regulation, and policy alignment in shaping how these technologies may be evaluated in Massachusetts.

Discussion 3 – Safety, Spent Fuel, Public Trust, and Community Engagement

  • Moderator: Sukesh Aghara: Professor, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, UMass Lowell
  • Panelists:
    • Edwin Lyman: Director of Nuclear Power Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists
    • Jeffrey Semancik: Director, Radiation Division, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
    • Patrick White: Group Lead, Fusion Energy Safety and Regulation, Clean Air Task Force

This session focused on the key public and environmental considerations surrounding advanced nuclear and fusion, including spent fuel management, radiation exposure, and accident risk. Panelists discussed evolving safety approaches, lessons from existing operations, and how collaborative, community-centered siting and transparent engagement can support informed dialogue and long-term public trust in Massachusetts.