New York governor seeks to build the state's first new nuclear power plant in decades
NEW YORK, June 24, (AP): New York's governor on Monday proposed the construction of the state's first new nuclear power plant in decades. Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the state's power authority to develop an advanced, "zero-emission' facility in upstate New York that she hopes will help create a clean, reliable and affordable electric grid for the state.
She said the state power authority will seek to develop "at least' one new nuclear energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than one gigawatt of electricity. That would increase the state's total nuclear capacity to about 4.3 gigawatts. The Democrat, speaking at the Niagara County Power Project in Lewiston, said the state needs to secure its "energy independence' if it wants to continue to attract large manufacturers that create good-paying jobs as it deactivates aging fossil fuel power plants.
Acknowledging concerns with nuclear power, she pledged the new facility or facilities would be safer than their predecessors. "This is not your grandparents' nuclear reactor,' Hochul said. "The new plan will be a model of 21st century nuclear design with safety at the forefront, automatic safety systems to enhance the containment and rigorous environmental standards.'
But Alfred Meyer, treasurer of Physicians for Social Responsibility's New York chapter, was unconvinced. He said nuclear power is a "very slow, expensive and dangerous' way to generate electricity that takes away resources from faster, cheaper renewable options while leaving behind highly toxic, radioactive waste. "Nuclear power is not clean or green energy,' he said.
"It is damaging to public health and the environment.' Hochul said the state hasn't decided on a potential location, but that upstate communities appear receptive, given the potential for creating 1,600 construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs once the facility is operational. "Everybody is raising their hand right now,' Hochul said. "It's going to be hard to decide.'
Among those likely in the running is the Nine Mile Point nuclear plant in Oswego. Hochul's administration has been supportive of Maryland power company Constellation's bid to build a new nuclear reactor at the two-reactor facility. There are 54 operating nuclear power plants in the country, according to the US Department of Energy. But American utilities have been broadly reluctant to launch new nuclear plants due to high cost overruns and delays on recent high-profile projects.
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