Gov. Hochul Calls for New Nuclear Power Facility to Strengthen New York’s Clean Energy Future

NEW YORK — June 24, 2025 — For the first time in decades, New York is poised to explore building a new nuclear power facility, as Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday announced a bold plan aimed at boosting the state’s energy independence and modernizing its grid.

Speaking at the Niagara County Power Project in Lewiston, Hochul outlined her vision to direct the New York Power Authority to develop at least one advanced, zero-emission nuclear energy facility in upstate New York.

“This is not your grandparents’ nuclear reactor,” said Hochul. “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.”

The proposed facility would add no less than one gigawatt of clean energy capacity to the state’s supply, increasing New York’s total nuclear output to about 4.3 gigawatts. Currently, the state’s three active nuclear plants — Nine Mile Point, Robert Emmett Ginna, and James A. FitzPatrick — provide about 20% of its electricity.

Hochul emphasized the importance of reliable energy infrastructure for economic development and job creation as New York continues retiring aging fossil fuel plants. She pointed to nuclear as a key tool to meet demand and attract major industrial employers.

“Everybody is raising their hand right now,” she said of potential host communities. “It’s going to be hard to decide.”

While no final site has been selected, the Nine Mile Point facility in Oswego — already the focus of a proposal from Maryland-based Constellation to build an additional reactor — is likely to be a contender. Hochul’s administration has expressed support for that effort.

“The state needs to secure its energy independence,” Hochul said, adding that the benefits include thousands of jobs: roughly 1,600 construction roles and 1,200 permanent ones.

Her plan comes amid a national conversation about the future of nuclear energy. Despite high-profile delays and cost overruns in recent nuclear builds, including the nearly $35 billion Plant Vogtle expansion in Georgia, interest is resurging as the U.S. seeks reliable, carbon-free power sources.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 54 nuclear power plants currently operate across the country. New nuclear development has been limited in recent decades due to cost and regulatory hurdles, though next-generation reactor designs like those proposed by the Tennessee Valley Authority are starting to gain momentum.

The last nuclear unit built in New York was Nine Mile Point Unit 2, which began operating in 1989. At its peak, nuclear energy supplied nearly one-third of the state’s power, according to advocacy group Nuclear New York.

The state’s previously operated Indian Point nuclear plant, located near New York City, was permanently shut down in 2021 after decades of service. Another state-run facility, the FitzPatrick plant, was sold in 2000 and is now operated by Constellation.

Hochul’s announcement signals a major shift toward reconsidering nuclear power’s role in New York’s clean energy strategy. The decision, while sure to reignite debate, could mark the beginning of a new chapter in the state’s long and complicated history with nuclear energy.

Originally reported by The Hindu.