New York getting new nuclear plant
In a landmark announcement, New York Governor Kathy Hochul unveiled plans to build the state’s first nuclear power plant in decades—a move that signals the renewed momentum behind nuclear energy in the United States. The proposed facility, which will be located upstate, is expected to generate at least 1 gigawatt of electricity, roughly half the output of the Hoover Dam.
Governor Hochul has directed the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to spearhead the project, part of a broader strategy to diversify the state’s energy mix and move toward a zero-emissions electricity system. “The use of advanced nuclear technology can provide the State with a greater diversity of its energy resources,” said Doreen Harris, president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
A Changing Energy Landscape
This announcement comes as nuclear energy is experiencing a surprising renaissance, bolstered by an unlikely coalition of supporters. Former President Donald Trump’s push for "energy dominance" laid regulatory groundwork, while tech giants—driven by the immense energy needs of AI data centers—are increasingly backing nuclear ventures. At the same time, climate advocates are warming up to the carbon-free credentials of nuclear power, seeing it as a necessary complement to solar and wind in decarbonizing the grid.
Advanced nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), are central to this resurgence. These next-generation designs aim to address many of the historical issues that plagued the nuclear industry, including high construction costs, long timelines, and safety concerns. The hope is that SMRs will streamline development and offer a safer, more scalable solution.
A Long Road to Recovery
The U.S. nuclear industry has had a tumultuous history. After a surge in plant construction in the 1970s and ‘80s, nuclear struggled to compete with cheap natural gas and rapidly falling prices for wind and solar. Public fears, stoked by incidents like the 1979 Three Mile Island meltdown, further hindered growth. Meanwhile, unresolved issues like radioactive waste storage continued to fuel opposition.
More recently, the Vogtle plant in Georgia highlighted both the promise and the peril of nuclear projects. The first new reactors built in the U.S. in over 30 years, Vogtle’s Units 3 and 4 went online in 2023 and 2024—13 years after construction began and at a cost nearly $17 billion over budget.
Despite these setbacks, nuclear power is quietly gaining new ground. The average U.S. reactor is now 42 years old, and many have either retired or are slated to shut down. Yet that trend is beginning to reverse. Meta recently signed a deal to extend the life of a 1980s-era reactor for another two decades. Microsoft has committed to reviving a shuttered Three Mile Island reactor, and both Google and Amazon are investing in advanced nuclear startups.
Climate Goals Driving Demand
For New York, nuclear could be essential in meeting its climate goals. The state has committed to slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Though it's halfway there, progress has been uneven, and nuclear could provide a reliable, emissions-free backbone to complement intermittent renewables.
If successful, New York’s new plant could be a model for other states looking to balance climate ambitions with energy security and economic growth. For now, the project remains in the early stages, with key questions about cost, timeline, and technology yet to be answered. But the political, environmental, and corporate winds appear to be shifting in nuclear’s favor—marking a significant turning point for an industry long thought to be in decline.
