New York has long been ground zero for anti-nuclear sentiment. Opposition to the Shoreham plant stopped the completed facility from operating, costing ratepayers billions. Siding with the activists, Gov. Andrew Cuomo shut down Indian Point, taking away 25% of the region’s generating capacity.
In a turn of events that should drive protesters back to their megaphones, nuclear energy is again taking center stage, especially as a new age of power-hungry Artificial Intelligence centers will depend on it.
Gov. Kathy Hochul apparently realizes that her party’s plan to rely on wind and solar without building new, continuously operating plants would be an energy—and economic—disaster for the Empire State. Despite the industry’s contentious history, she’s put nuclear back on the table.
The Future Energy Economy Summit, hosted by Hochul last year in Syracuse, emphasized an “all-of-the-above” clean energy approach, highlighting the potential role of advanced nuclear technologies alongside renewables, including wind, solar, geothermal, and hydrogen.
At present, experts say wind energy, such as the power expected from the massive Sunrise Wind project off Montauk Point, can only be relied on about 17% of the time. Solar, which is also affected by weather conditions, is only available about 21% on average. These sources must be coupled with continuous 24-hour power plants, a need that conflicts with New York’s green goal of completely eliminating fossil fuels by 2040.
President Trump has made energy a priority of his second term, with an emphasis on tapping the nation’s vast oil and gas supplies and going nuclear. He’s offering to fast-track permits for companies looking to pair power plants with manufacturing facilities. Trump announced trillions in Artificial Intelligence investments as part of his Golden Age for America strategy, a plan that relies on a dependable source of electricity. As for wind energy, he’s paused new offshore turbine leases pending a comprehensive review of the industry’s economic viability.
To compensate for the nation’s looming energy shortfall, tech giants Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have announced plans for nuclear plants to power their massive Artificial Intelligence operations. Stirring memories of the nation’s turbulent atomic history, Microsoft has entered into an agreement with Constellation Energy to purchase electricity from the reopening of Unit 1 at the Three Mile Island nuclear power station in Pennsylvania. It was an accident at Three Mile that galvanized U.S. opposition to atomic energy, leading to the shuttering of Shoreham and a near abandonment of the industry.
Industry expert David Walsh points out that the tech giant plans aren’t about society and ratepayers at large, only about their own data needs. “What they are doing is called ‘self-generation,’ not for others,” Walsh said. “The self-generation trend actually reinforces the nature of the disaster created by governors Cuomo and Hochul—not nearly enough power for industry or people.”
“In the meantime, natural gas is very clean, abundant, and necessary for New York,” Walsh stressed. “Bypassing this great and abundant technology over the past 15 years, the government has condemned the region to inefficient, dirty, older gas and oil-fired units as an operating fleet. To the extent this is ignored by the politicians, there will be no AI future or affordable power for New Yorkers, and no economic growth.” Ironically, Walsh notes, state-of-the-art natural gas power plants that have minimal emissions were invented by General Electric in Schenectady, NY.
The surging nuclear emphasis comes as managers of the nation’s electric grid, including the New York Independent System Operator, warn of the hazards of putting too many green eggs in the energy basket. They’ve consistently emphasized the need to supplement renewable energy sources with continuous-cycle plants to maintain grid reliability.
If New York’s green energy supply falls short, consumers may be unable to rely on their neighbors. PJM, the electric grid operator for 13 Northeast States, warned that, considering the anticipated 2025 load forecast, the system could see a capacity shortage as soon as the 2026-27 Delivery Year. “The recent pricing of capacity and a reduction in the reserve margin expresses a clear indication that new and immediate supply is needed on the system. If these trends continue as projected, we risk having insufficient resources later in this decade to maintain the reliable electric service that the public expects,” stated PJM Board Chair Mark Takahashi.
Recent events in Europe underscore these concerns. In April, a widespread power outage affected Spain and Portugal, leading to discussions about the stability of electricity systems that rely on renewables. The incident highlighted the need for continued investment in power grid stability as countries close nuclear and fossil fuel plants and transition to alternative sources.
Senator Mario Materra pitches a pragmatic path to save New York from an energy disaster. “If greenhouse gases are the issue, like they say, why not invest in scrubbers that almost entirely remove them from the emissions?” argues the Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee. “Our state has a massive supply of natural gas—larger than Saudi Arabia. It could be used efficiently to produce energy and is very clean. A simple shift in policy would guarantee our energy future and change the economic lives of millions of New Yorkers. It's an absolute tragedy we are not moving in that direction.”