New York to build nuclear plant upstate, hints at more

State officials planned to create a reliable and affordable energy grid by building at least one nuclear power plant in upstate New York, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday. The New York Power Authority will work with the state’s Department of Public Service to develop at least one new nuclear energy facility, according to a release from Hochul’s office. The goal is to achieve a clean energy economy through zero-emission electricity, she noted. The facilities will have a combined capacity of at least one gigawatt of electricity and may partner with private entities, the release added. Hochul described nuclear power as an asset that will bring manufacturers to the state and bolster local economies. Embracing clean energy attracts good-paying jobs and ensures that New York controls its energy future, she said.

Where will the plant be built? It is unclear where upstate officials plan to build the plant. The state’s power authority will start evaluating business models, securing partnerships, and scouting locations for the first plant, Hochul’s office said. Viable locations will be considered based on public safety, community support, and compatibility of existing infrastructure, along with the availability of land and skilled labor, according to the release.

How are people responding? Renewable energy advocacy group Public Power NY released a Monday statement slamming Hochul’s plan. These nuclear plans only came about after the Trump administration promised to expedite necessary permits, the group alleged. This timing proves that Hochul isn’t serious about reducing energy bills or caring for the climate, the statement continued. The state should be focused on scaling up affordable solar and wind energy, which are the only viable options for meeting the state’s science-based climate goals and lower energy bills, the statement added.

Democratic state Sen. Liz Krueger also voiced concerns about Hochul’s nuclear plans in a Monday statement, questioning the cost-effectiveness and results of nuclear power in the name of green energy. Krueger had never seen a real-world example of new nuclear developments that are simultaneously safe, cost-effective, timely built, and not burdensome to already disadvantaged communities, she said.

The New York State Conservative Party also slammed Gov. Hochul’s leadership, which it described as backward. Hochul has long supported shutting down key nuclear sites across the state, then suddenly reversed her stance after electric rates skyrocketed, according to a Monday statement from the party. While the party supported Hochul’s decision to invest in nuclear energy, it said other Democratic policies had already irreparably damaged New York’s opportunity to develop safe, clean, and efficient nuclear energy. This isn’t leadership, it’s a clear admission that leaders have been making wrong decisions for decades, party Chairman Gerard Kassar said. GOP State Assembly Rep. Nicole Malliotakis also noted the policy flip in a Monday statement. Perhaps state Democrats realized how foolish it was to close the Indian Point plant in 2021, she wrote.

New York state Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, praised Hochul’s directive in a Monday statement, describing the plan as a positive step to strengthen the state’s energy grid. The northern city of Oswego would be an ideal site for the new plant since it already houses three reactors, the GOP statesman noted.

The Massachusetts Financial Alliance, a government accountability group, also chimed in Monday night, curious whether the Bay State could have its own nuclear power plant.

Dig deeper: Read my report last September on Microsoft renting Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island to power data centers.