Governor Hochul Announces Advanced Nuclear Energy Workforce Roundtable to Empower New York's Clean Energy Economy

Strategic Insights -

In a significant step towards advancing New York's energy future, Governor Kathy Hochul convened an advanced nuclear energy workforce roundtable in New York City. The event brought together leaders from New York, the U.S., and Canada to discuss strategies for strengthening the workforce needed to support the development of advanced nuclear energy facilities in the state. The roundtable was hosted by the New York Power Authority and included contributions from various stakeholders, including government agencies, industry leaders, educators, and labor unions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The roundtable focused on exploring strategies to strengthen the workforce needed to advance New York's nuclear ambitions, particularly in the areas of education, training, and apprenticeship programs.
  • Participants discussed their roles in nuclear workforce development and explored collaborative initiatives to upskill and grow the nuclear workforce in New York State.
  • Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of building a skilled workforce to support the development of advanced nuclear power in Upstate New York and to ensure that the state has a reliable, emissions-free future.
  • The roundtable was part of a broader effort to develop at least one new nuclear energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than 1 gigawatt of electricity.
  • The New York Power Authority, New York State Research and Development Authority, and other stakeholders acknowledged the need for a strategic workforce pipeline of tradespeople, operators, engineers, and safety specialists to support the construction and operation of advanced nuclear facilities.
  • Participants expressed support for Governor Hochul's vision for a clean energy economy that includes nuclear power and called for collaborative efforts to create an emissions-free future for New York State.
  • Labor unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), emphasized the importance of investing in union apprenticeships and training programs to prepare workers for well-paying jobs in the nuclear industry.

Statistics:

  • 10 stakeholders participated in the roundtable, including government agencies, industry leaders, educators, and labor unions.
  • The New York Power Authority has been working to develop at least one new nuclear energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than 1 gigawatt of electricity.
  • The roundtable was held one year after the Future Energy Economy Summit and explored strategies to strengthen the workforce needed to advance New York's nuclear ambitions.
  • Governor Hochul called for leaders to work together on nation-leading initiatives to bring good-paying jobs to New York State.
  • The roundtable aimed to create a collaborative dialogue among stakeholders in nuclear and workforce development to ensure a reliable, emissions-free future for New Yorkers.

Sources:

  • Governor Kathy Hochul's Office
  • New York Power Authority
  • New York State Research and Development Authority
  • New York State Department of Labor
  • New York State Building and Construction Trades Council
  • International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
  • Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)
  • Ontario Power Generation
  • Nuclear Energy Institute