Connecticut

Civic/Governance Barriers activates on moratorium-class action (C1), meaningful 2026 race (C3) — governance instruments on the electoral, legislative, and regulatory surface (protocol §10; Overview Civic breakout). Energy/Power is dominant (high electricity prices, Millstone/behind-the-meter co-location, grid-cost fights). Capital Flows/Insurability is a strong secondary stressor: the live debate is squarely about repealing 20-30 year data-center tax incentives (S.B. 245) and preventing cost-shift to ratepayers (GRID Act 'zero rate effect credits'), i.e., incentive-repeal and ratepayer cost-allocation risk (CT Public, CT Mirror GRID Act, Governing).

2026 Governor: electricity prices are 'the top issue.' Gov. Ned Lamont (D) seeks a third term (would support data centers only if developers pay their infrastructure share); Republicans Ryan Fazio and Erin Stewart center bills on the public benefits charge; progressive Rep. Josh Elliott (D primary challenger) would take a tougher line on data centers (CT Mirror governor race). U.S. Senate: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) advanced the bipartisan GRID Act (with Sen. Josh Hawley) making data-center rate insulation a federal issue (CT Mirror GRID Act).

No statewide moratorium/ban enacted. Two 2026 slowing bills died when the session ended May 13, 2026: S.B. 245 (repeal 2021 tax incentives) and H.B. 5469 (regulate co-located data centers near power plants such as Millstone); lawmakers said developer interest faded amid high electricity costs (CT Public). Local: the Groton Planning & Zoning Commission enacted a one-year moratorium on large data centers (applications >5,000 sq ft) while it drafts regulations (DCD (Groton)). The tax-incentive repeal bill was referred to the next session.

State: S.B. 245 (eliminate data-center tax incentives) advanced through committees but was not taken up before adjournment and was referred to the next session (FastDemocracy CT SB245,). Federal (CT senator): the GRID Act (Blumenthal/Hawley) would require new >=20 MW data centers to self-supply power off-grid, make existing facilities pay 'zero rate effect credits' to offset ratepayer costs over a 10-year wean-off window, and impose a $1M/day fine for illicit grid draw (CT Mirror GRID Act).

None identified. No Nov 2026 statewide Connecticut data-center ballot measure surfaced; the issue is legislative/regulatory and campaign-driven (CT Public).

NE Edge's proposed ~300 MW data center at/near the Millstone Nuclear Power Plant in Waterford, and a similar project explored next to a gas-fired plant in Killingly, drew the co-location legislation (H.B. 5469) and developer pushback against the GRID Act; only Cigna has used CT's data-center tax incentive since 2021 (CT Mirror GRID Act, Governing).

Labor tie-in present: a condition of Blumenthal's GRID Act support was that new data centers enter project labor agreements (CT Mirror GRID Act). Not a standalone dominant domain.

Emerging cluster; only one company (Cigna) has qualified for CT's 2021 data-center tax incentive, and high electricity costs are deterring developers, so the footprint remains limited (CT Public, Governing).

"Many states unplugged nuclear power and plugged in energy sucking data centers, driving up prices... Here in Connecticut, we did just the opposite... said slow down new data centers, unless they add more generation as well." — Gov. Ned Lamont, 2026 State of the State (CT.gov).

CT Public (failed bills); CT Mirror (governor race); CT Mirror (GRID Act); DCD (Groton moratorium); Governing (tax break); CT.gov (State of the State); FastDemocracy SB245;