{"id":385397,"date":"2025-06-27T16:59:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T14:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=385397"},"modified":"2025-06-27T17:01:41","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T15:01:41","slug":"good-laugh-for-today-new-york-state-says-it-will-build-a-new-nuclear-power-plant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=385397","title":{"rendered":"Good Laugh For Today: New York State Says It Will Build A New Nuclear Power Plant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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From Manhattan Contrarian<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Francis Menton<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In case you missed it, here is New York Governor Kathy Hochul\u2019s breathless announcement from yesterday: \u201cGovernor Hochul Directs New York Power Authority to Develop a Zero-Emission Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology Power Plant.\u201d<\/a> <\/strong>And here is Hochul\u2019s picture of herself making the announcement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Does something here seem like it doesn\u2019t quite fit? Yes, it was just four years ago, in April 2021, that New York completed the forced closure of the two perfectly functional Indian Point nuclear plants<\/a>, with combined generating capacity of about 2 GW, for no other reason than relentless opposition from environmentalists and NIMBYs. And yet now the Governor is saying that the plan is to start over and build a new nuclear plant at some unspecified place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before getting to a few of the problems, let\u2019s start with some of the excited language from the Governor\u2019s press release<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Governor Kathy Hochul today directed the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and construct a zero-emission advanced nuclear power plant in Upstate New York to support a reliable and affordable electric grid, while providing the necessary zero-emission electricity to achieve a clean energy economy. . . . \u201cAs New York State electrifies its economy, deactivates aging fossil fuel power generation and continues to attract large manufacturers that create good-paying jobs, we must embrace an energy policy of abundance that centers on energy independence and supply chain security to ensure New York controls its energy future,\u201d Governor Hochul said. . . .<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NYPA, in coordination with the Department of Public Service (DPS), will seek to develop at least one new nuclear energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than one gigawatt of electricity, either alone or in partnership with private entities, to support the state\u2019s electric grid and the people and businesses that rely on it. NYPA will immediately begin evaluation of technologies, business models, and locations for this first nuclear power plant and will secure the key partnerships needed for the project. This process will include site and technology feasibility assessments as well as consideration of financing options, in coordination with the forthcoming studies included in the master plan. . . .<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now who wouldn\u2019t want \u201ca reliable and affordable electric grid\u201d<\/em> that provides \u201cthe necessary zero-emission electricity to achieve a clean energy economy\u201d<\/em>? Not meaning to be the grinch here, but let me lay out a few of the problems that I have with the approach to energy policy for New York as described by our Governor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n