Does Dunkirk have what NY is looking for in nuclear search?

The New York Power Authority confirms Dunkirk is one of eight upstate communities that responded to the state’s search for more nuclear power.

The question now is: does Dunkirk have what the state is looking for, and who could end up paying for new nuclear power?

The former NRG power plant in Dunkirk has been closed for about a decade.

Now, local leaders want to see power generated there again, this time, from nuclear energy.

“It’s on Lake Erie and, you know, nuclear plants do require water,” state Sen. George Borrello said. “And we have the infrastructure there. There’s already a huge amount of electrical infrastructure because it already generated power.”

And those are some of the same factors the state says it will consider.

NYPA says their requirements include access to stable water sources, existing infrastructure, a skilled workforce and support from the community and local government.

“Dunkirk was the only community in Western New York that applied for this,” Borrello said. “And, you know, therefore I think we obviously have a very good chance of getting it.”

The search comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul makes nuclear a larger part of New York’s energy plans.

The state is developing a pathway for four gigawatts of new advanced nuclear power on top of at least one gigawatt Hochul previously directed NYPA to develop upstate.  

The state argues nuclear could provide round-the-clock, zero-emission power as electricity demand grows.

But not everyone agrees.

“My big concern was cost,” Mark Dunlea, coordinator at People of Albany United for Safe Energy (PAUSE), said. “And that remains a huge concern.”

Dunlea argues the state should put more money into renewable energy and storage instead.

But that raises another question, that if New York shuts down fossil fuel generation and rejects nuclear, what provides power during periods when wind and solar output is low?”

“Well, that’s why you have the battery energy storage system,” Dunlea said.

NYPA, however, says advanced nuclear is part of the governor’s approach to keep power available around the clock.

In a statement to Spectrum News 1, NYPA says, in part:

“NYPA continues to explore every avenue to make certain that its project advances quickly and in a cost-effective manner, as called for by Governor Hochul.”

The public was originally facing a deadline on Aug. 10 to weigh in on the state’s nuclear policy options.

That deadline has now been extended to Sept. 24.

So, the major question the state has not answered is where.

They say they’re still looking into all eight upstate communities that have responded.  

The state’s work does not end with the September comment deadline. The advanced nuclear master plan is expected by the end of this year.

So for Dunirk, while the interest is official, for now, the selection is not.