LEWISTON, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul says she wants the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and construct a zero-emission, advanced nuclear-power plant somewhere in upstate New York.
The plant would support a “reliable and affordable” electric grid, while providing the necessary zero-emission electricity to “achieve a clean energy economy,” Hochul’s office said in a Monday announcement.
It would be the first nuclear-power plant built in the Empire State in more than three decades. Hochul made the announcement during a visit to the Niagara County Power Project in Lewiston.
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NYPA, in coordination with the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS), will seek to develop at least one new nuclear-energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than 1 gigawatt of electricity, either alone or in partnership with private entities, to support the state’s electric grid and the people and businesses that rely on it.
NYPA will immediately begin evaluation of technologies, business models, and locations for this first nuclear-power plant and will secure the key partnerships needed for the project, Hochul’s office said.
The process will include site and technology-feasibility assessments as well as consideration of financing options. It’ll be conducted in coordination with the forthcoming studies included in the master plan for Responsible Advanced Nuclear Development in New York, led by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and DPS, per the announcement.
The state will assess candidate locations for “suitability” based on public safety, strength of community support, compatibility with existing infrastructure, as well as skilled labor and land availability.
New York state currently has three active nuclear-power plants, each located near Lake Ontario and operated by Constellation. They provide about one-fifth of the state’s electricity supply, per the governor’s office.
