New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) ordered the state’s public power utility this week to start working on a zero-emissions advanced nuclear energy site that would be the nation’s first major nuclear plant project in nearly two decades.
“The industries of the future — advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence . . . semi-conductor manufacturing — they don’t run on dreams, they need to be powered,” Hochul said while announcing the project at an event in Niagara County on Monday. “If we don’t increase New York’s electricity supply in a major way, we’re going to risk losing our opportunities.”
“This historic initiative will lay the foundation for the next generation of prosperity . . . and it can also do what government is supposed to do: build infrastructure that underpins economic growth and security,” she added.
The New York Power Authority (NYPA), the utility program former President Franklin Roosevelt (D) created while he was the state’s governor nearly a century ago, is spearheading the new nuclear project, but Hochul said it will be open to partnerships. The plan is to include “at least one new nuclear energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than one gigawatt of electricity,” according to the governor’s office.
Hochul said she is “committed to working with the White House to accelerate this project” and has spoken with President Trump about expediting approval for nuclear facilities.
“There’s a reason people don’t embrace nuclear energy — a lot of reasons — one of them is it just takes too long, and the barriers are in Washington,” she said. “The length of time — 10 years, a decade of regulatory bureaucracy and red tape that must be gotten through — is a reason why it fails and people don’t even try.”
The White House didn’t immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.
A specific Upstate New York location has not been identified, but the governor’s office said potential sites will be evaluated based on public safety, community support, existing infrastructure and the availability of skilled labor and land.
“Only receptive, welcoming communities will be considered,” Hochul told the crowd Monday. “There’s a lot of them because the communities that already host them know these are good-paying, long-term jobs, and the benefits of the community are also extraordinary.”
“Everybody’s raising their hand right now, so it’s gonna be hard to decide,” she added.
The effort is part of Hochul’s plans to replace more than two gigawatts of fossil fuel capacity the state has shuttered in decisions largely driven by environmental concerns.
Hochul, an upstate native who is seeking reelection next year, repeatedly addressed potential environmental and safety concerns about the proposed nuclear expansion during Monday’s event.
“To power New York’s future, we need three things: reliability, affordability, and sustainability, and nuclear drives all three,” she said. “If you take nuclear off the table, the only way to do that is more fossil fuels.”
“The new plan will be a model of 21st century nuclear design with safety at the forefront, automatic safety systems to enhance the containment, and rigorous environmental standards will be met — they truly will,” she added.
