New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan Monday to construct the state’s first new nuclear power plant in decades, aiming to strengthen energy independence and support the transition to a cleaner, more reliable electric grid.
Speaking at the Niagara County Power Project in Lewiston, Hochul directed the New York Power Authority to begin developing an advanced, zero-emission nuclear facility in upstate New York. The project would have a minimum output of one gigawatt, boosting the state’s total nuclear energy capacity to around 4.3 gigawatts.
The governor emphasized the need for stable, carbon-free energy to attract large-scale manufacturing and to replace aging fossil fuel plants. “We’re going to get it done,” Hochul said. “This historic initiative will lay the foundation for the next generation of prosperity.”
Though a specific location has not yet been chosen, Hochul noted that several upstate communities have shown strong interest in hosting the project, citing the potential for creating up to 1,600 construction jobs and 1,200 permanent positions.
One likely contender is the Nine Mile Point nuclear facility in Oswego, already home to two reactors. The state has supported a proposal by Constellation, a Maryland-based energy company, to build a new reactor at the site.
Despite national hesitancy around nuclear development—mainly due to the high costs and delays of recent projects—New York is moving forward. Georgia Power recently completed the first two new nuclear reactors in the U.S. in decades at Plant Vogtle, but at nearly $35 billion and with significant delays. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Valley Authority has applied to federal regulators to build a next-generation nuclear plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Currently, New York’s active nuclear fleet includes three upstate plants near Lake Ontario—Nine Mile Point, Ginna, and FitzPatrick—operated by Constellation. Together, they generate around 3.3 gigawatts, which accounts for roughly 20% of the state’s electricity.
The last nuclear plant built in the state was Nine Mile Point’s Unit 2, completed in 1989. At its peak, nuclear energy contributed about one-third of New York’s power supply, according to Nuclear New York, a group advocating for nuclear energy.
The state previously operated two nuclear facilities—FitzPatrick and the Indian Point Energy Center. Indian Point, located along the Hudson River north of New York City, was shut down in 2021, while FitzPatrick was sold in 2000 and is now under Constellation’s management.
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