Nuclear power targeted as one answer to energy needs in NY

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Discussions and debates about the role nuclear power plays in the effort to bring energy to New York state are well underway, and  leading to a debate over the options of nuclear vs. renewables.

What You Need To Know

There is an ongoing nuclear power vs. renewables debate as Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling for development of nuclear power as part of an effort to bring more affordable energy resources to the state
Several locations across upstate New York being eyed as a potential site for the expansion of nuclear power
Hochul says this isn’t about renewables vs. nuclear, but rather an all-of-the-above solution to New York’s energy needs

Gov. Kathy Hochul is calling for the development of advanced nuclear power as part of an effort to bring more affordable energy resources to the state.

“I don’t know much about nuclear. So, I wanted to learn about it and draw my own conclusions,” said the owner of Route Five Business Park and Warehouse and other businesses in the city and town of Dunkirk, Kevin Muldowney.

He is hoping his community can grow economically.

“Living in the city of Dunkirk for 60 years, we were always used to the power plant and weren’t frightened by it,” Muldowney said. 

Muldowney lives less than a mile from that power plant, NRG, a former coal-fired plant that operated for decades before closing 10 years ago.

It’s one of several locations across upstate New York being eyed as a potential site for the expansion of nuclear power.

“People think of the old hourglass shape, you know, tower of cement and this gas billowing up and nuclear meltdowns and Three Mile Island or worst case, Chernobyl. That’s not what we’re talking about now,” said Chautauqua County Executive Paul Wendel.

Both Muldowney and Wendel attended a recent nuclear forum to learn more about the effort to expand nuclear power.

“We’re looking to fill a gap and really solve a problem,” Wendell said. “So, the city of Dunkirk, with the mothballing and closure of the NRG facility, lost a significant amount of property tax revenue.”

Keith Schue of the nonprofit organization Nuclear New York is educating community leaders about the nuclear option.

“Right now, we have about 3.4 GW of existing nuclear capacity in the state,” Schue said. “We need multiple gigawatts of additional generation. That’s becoming very clear.”

Because of that, Hochul is seeking to boost the state’s nuclear capabilities with a plan called the Nuclear Reliability Backbone – with an ultimate goal of reaching 8.4 gigawatts of zero-emission nuclear power in the state as part of a larger clean energy transition.

“If I can expand the nuclear capability, more supply will drive down the costs,” said Hochul.

“Our electric needs are growing by leaps and bounds, and some estimates showing we’re going to need 25% more electricity by 2040,” stated the CEO of the New York Public Service Commission, Rory Christian.

“Safety is inherent,” he said. “There’s not one system. There are multiple systems against any one particular thing.”

Despite safety protocols, the use of nuclear power to create energy has its critics.

“Whether it’s the refining process, the mining and refining process for nuclear fuel or the storage process for spent fuel, radiation is released into the environment and into the world. It’s true that human beings have come a long way in in terms of safety when it comes to nuclear energy. But all it takes is one little accident for a catastrophe to happen,” said Graham Hughes, representing Climate Solutions Accelerator.

He says enhancing nuclear power is not the best solution for New York.

“We think the path forward for building an energy system that works for everybody, that provides clean, reliable, renewable energy is one that is based primarily on true renewables like solar and wind,” Hughes said. “And that’s where we want to see investments from the state.”

So, discussions continue about next steps.

“Well, what you find is if you do an objective analysis of all different forms of energy, that nuclear is as safe as renewables,” said Schue.

Hochul says this isn’t about renewables vs. nuclear, but rather an all-of-the-above solution to New York’s energy needs.