New York to Build First Major US Nuclear Power Plant in 15 Years

Strategic Insights -

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced plans to build a zero-emission advanced nuclear power plant in upstate New York, the first major new US plant in over 15 years. The nuclear plant will add zero-emission baseload power and help to advance New York's goal to achieve a clean energy economy. The project will be a test of Donald Trump's executive orders to accelerate nuclear-power development in the US. The nuclear plant will produce enough energy to power around a million homes, with one gigawatt of production.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new nuclear power plant will be built in upstate New York, the first major new US plant in over 15 years.
  • The plant will add at least 1GW of nuclear power generation, producing enough energy to power around a million homes.
  • The project will be a test of Donald Trump's executive orders to accelerate nuclear-power development in the US.
  • Nuclear plants currently produce about 19% of the country's electricity, down 4% from its 2012 peak.
  • The US will need the equivalent of 34 new, full-size nuclear power plants over the next five years to meet power requirements.
  • Renewable energy groups have slammed the decision, saying that the state should focus on scaling up wind and solar power instead.

Statistics:

  • 1GW of nuclear power generation will be added to the grid, enough to power around a million homes.
  • Nuclear plants currently produce about 19% of the country's electricity, down 4% from its 2012 peak.
  • The US will need the equivalent of 34 new, full-size nuclear power plants over the next five years to meet power requirements.
  • Only five new commercial reactors have come online in the US since 1991.
  • Renewable energy groups say that the state can build 15GW of new renewables instead of nuclear.

Sources:

  • New York Governor Kathy Hochul's statement
  • Public Power NY Coalition's statement
  • Trump's executive orders to accelerate nuclear-power development in the US
  • Microsoft's 20-year purchase agreement with Constellation to license power from an ageing reactor
  • Amazon's agreement to purchase nuclear-generated power from the Susquehanna nuclear power plant
  • Google's deal to purchase nuclear energy from small modular reactors (SMRs)
  • Amazon's agreements to invest in four SMRs in Washington state
  • Oracle's design of an AI data center to be powered by three SMRs