71° and Fog
By Kim DeGeorge
WGRZ
LEWISTON, N.Y. — New York Governor Kathy Hochul was in Lewiston Monday to announce that she has directed the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and construct a zero-emission advanced nuclear power plant somewhere in upstate New York.
NYPA President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said the agency is prepared to deliver on the Governor’s call for action. “We are eager to deliver on this impactful nuclear initiative for New Yorkers,” he said.
However, neither Hochul nor NYPA has the authority to put a nuclear power plant on line, as the approval and licensing of such facilities lays solely with the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Wind and Solar won't cut it
The Governor's announcement comes at a time when most of the electricity in the state is still produced by fossil fuels, and with the state struggling to meet its mandates under its 2019 "Climate Act".
Among the mandates are for all electricity in New York to be produced with zero emissions by the year 2040, which is something power production experts have long cautioned as unattainable unless additional measures are taken.
Despite billions of dollars in state taxpayer subsidies for so called "green-energy" projects, wind and solar, even when combined, still account for less than 10 percent of the energy generated in New York.
"Solar works when the sun is shining. Wind turbines spin when the air is moving. We need electricity that's reliable all day long regardless of the weather outdoors," Hochul said.
Hochul believes nuclear power will go a long way toward meeting the state's goals.
“We must embrace an energy policy of abundance that centers on energy independence and supply chain security,” Hochul said, while noting that nuclear power wouldn't be subject to fluctuations in the world wide marketplace.
According to the nuclear power advocacy group Nuclear New York nuclear power already accounts for 20% of New York’s electricity and 42% of carbon-free power.
Where would it go?
Nuclear power plants are often located near abundant water supplies for cooling purposes.
Hochul would not discuss any specific location that might be under consideration for the nuclear plant, but insisted it will not be in any community that doesn't welcome it.
Moreover, she claimed there are several communities which are clamoring to have the nuclear power plant.
