This week’s announcement from New York Governor Kathy Hochul marks a potentially historic shift. For the first time in over 15 years, a state is planning to build a major new nuclear power facility, directing the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop at least 1 gigawatt of new nuclear capacity.

If successful, this project could be the signal flare that U.S. nuclear advocates have long been waiting for.

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Why This Move Matters

There’s no question that the U.S. needs more clean, firm power to support the transition to a low-carbon grid. Nuclear offers a unique solution: zero-emissions baseload generation that can operate around the clock, supporting variable renewables like wind and solar. Yet progress has stalled for decades, largely due to regulatory bottlenecks, ballooning costs, and public skepticism.

Now, New York’s initiative is breaking through on multiple fronts:

• A Public Utility Taking the Lead: The NYPA, a public entity, will identify the site and reactor design, potentially partnering with private companies. This blend of public initiative and private innovation could become a new model for nuclear development in the U.S.
• Federal Momentum: Governor Hochul cited recent executive orders from President Trump aimed at streamlining permitting and modernizing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This alignment between state ambition and federal support could help clear a path that has long been mired in red tape.
• Technology Optionality: The project may include one large reactor or a set of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with early collaboration already underway at Nine Mile Point and coordination with Canada’s SMR efforts in Ontario. This flexible approach opens the door to faster, more scalable deployment.

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Learning From the Past

The shadow of Plant Vogtle in Georgia still looms large. Originally slated to cost under $15 billion, the final tab exceeded $30 billion and completion took nearly 15 years. New York officials are wisely studying these setbacks as cautionary tales—not reasons to delay, but reminders to build better.

At the same time, the closure of Indian Point in 2021—without a viable replacement—left New York scrambling to fill a quarter of New York City’s electricity needs with fossil fuels. That decision underlined the critical role nuclear can play in emissions reduction and reliability.

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A Cultural Shift

Perhaps the most encouraging development isn’t technical—it’s cultural. Public sentiment toward nuclear is evolving, especially among climate advocates, energy pragmatists, and the tech industry. The community support for restarting Three Mile Island’s undamaged reactor is one such sign.

Governor Hochul captured the moment well: “That’s a real signal to the rest of the country that the time has come.” I don’t agree with Hochul on much, but coming from a state like New York I have to agree that the signal in this case is indeed a strong one.

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What Comes Next?

New York’s announcement will not, on its own, revive the entire U.S. nuclear sector. But it represents a serious commitment from a major state—one long controlled by Democrats that have been hostile to anything other than wind and solar for the past 20 years. That this is happening and backed by public resources, bipartisan urgency, and a clear-eyed view of the risks and rewards in a state that has been so recently openly hostile to nuclear is astounding to me.

For those of us who have been following the global race in advanced nuclear—where China continues to surge ahead—this could be the inflection point the U.S. desperately needs.

Let’s hope this isn’t an outlier. Let’s hope it’s the start of something much bigger.

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🔗 Read More for Further Insights

• 🧵 Why U.S. Nuclear Permitting Must Catch Up – Our breakdown of the U.S. regulatory gap vs China
• ☢️ Nuclear Plant Closures: Lessons from Indian Point – How shutting down a reliable plant led to higher emissions
• 🔍 How Small Modular Reactors Could Redefine Nuclear – The technology behind the next generation of plants