By: Ariella Haviv

In a bold and sweeping shift for New York’s energy future, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the first major nuclear power plant construction project in the United States in over a decade and a half — a zero-emission advanced reactor that could power one million homes. As The New York Post reported on Monday, this new facility will mark a historic pivot in the state’s clean energy strategy, placing nuclear power at the center of its long-term decarbonization goals.

The facility, to be spearheaded by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), is expected to produce no less than 1 gigawatt of electricity. The state’s top public utility has been tasked with designing the plant, identifying a suitable location in upstate New York, and determining whether to proceed independently or partner with private firms. The project’s announcement signals a striking contrast to the state’s recent past — namely, the shuttering of Indian Point Energy Center in Westchester County under former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

As The New York Post report noted, Indian Point had once provided roughly 25% of the electricity for New York City and Westchester, and its 2021 closure — hailed by some environmental activists but criticized by energy analysts — left a significant gap in the state’s power supply. Hochul’s announcement appears to acknowledge the missteps of the past. “Officials should have come up with a Plan B and better anticipated the state’s energy needs,” she has previously admitted — a sentiment that now underpins this aggressive push toward advanced nuclear technologies.

“New York must embrace an energy policy of abundance that centers on energy independence and supply chain security to ensure New York controls its energy future,” Hochul said in a statement covered by The New York Post. She described the project as a necessary move as the Empire State phases out aging fossil fuel infrastructure, expands manufacturing capacity, and ramps up its electrification efforts.

This nuclear initiative dovetails with the ambitious targets set under New York’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which mandates that 70% of electricity come from renewable sources by 2030 and demands a zero-emissions electricity sector by 2040. While renewable energy sources like wind and solar remain vital to the state’s vision, Governor Hochul made clear that advanced nuclear power — long sidelined by political and regulatory skepticism — will now play a critical role in achieving those statutory goals.

“This is the second time during my administration that I am calling on the New York Power Authority to lead a critical energy initiative,” she said, adding that NYPA is “safely and rapidly deploying clean, reliable nuclear power for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”

NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll echoed the governor’s enthusiasm, telling The New York Post, “Time and time again, the Power Authority has been called upon by New York State leadership to take bold action and we have delivered outcomes to support the public good.” Driscoll added, “We are eager to deliver on this impactful nuclear initiative for New Yorkers.”

The potential sites for the new plant will be evaluated on a wide range of criteria, including public safety, infrastructure compatibility, and land availability.