Upstate NY Towns Raise Their Hands to Host New Reactor

New York state is moving forward on plans to build its first nuclear reactor in a half-century.

Several upstate communities have raised their hands to host a nuclear reactor in response to the state’s request last fall, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office. Currently New York has about 3.4 gigawatts spread over three reactors near Lake Ontario in Oswego County. Hochul wants to more than double that amount.

“Creating a Nuclear Reliability Backbone of 8.4 gigawatts of safe, reliable and emission-free round-the-clock nuclear power is critical to advancing her all-of-the-above approach to energy designed to keep the lights on for New Yorkers and costs down,” Hochul spokesperson Ken Lovett said in an emailed statement.

A total of eight communities expressed interest, including the Finger Lakes, the Binghamton area, St. Lawrence County across the border from Ottawa, Dunkirk on Lake Erie and Rochester. Three sites on Lake Ontario also expressed interest, including Oswego County, which hosts the state’s current reactors and provides about 20% of New York’s power.