Jul 23, 2025
New York Revives Nuclear Power—A Model for Other States?
The push to remove fossil fuels from power generation via green initiatives has not gone as well as the industry had hoped. Despite so many advancements in sustainable energy, green power has not kept up with the accelerated pace of the digital world and its demands on power. Is it time to return to nuclear power? New York state seems to think so.
In an announcement that shocked many, NY Governor Kathy Hochul explained that she has instructed the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to design and build a new zero-emission advanced nuclear power plant. The plant, to be located in upstate NY, will be the first major plant built in the last 15 years.
A Policy of Abundance
In her announcement, Hochul talked about "an energy policy of abundance that centers on energy independence." Mentioning abundance provides a quick glimpse into why nuclear power generation is suddenly on the radar again.
No other form of power generation supplies the sheer volume we get from nuclear. Furthermore, it's the only form of power generation capable of keeping up with the demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and other power-hungry technologies.
If we genuinely want to stop burning fossil fuels to generate power, we need to have other means capable of producing more than we need. Why more? To future proof our power generation capacities. And right now, the key to future proofing seems to lie in nuclear.
Not Your 1970s Nuclear
Whenever industry insiders start talking about nuclear power in earnest, older consumers start thinking about the nuclear energy of the past. Horror stories, like the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, imply that we should stay away from nuclear energy. But today's nuclear power is not your 1970s nuclear power. A lot has changed over the last 50 years.
Second gen light and water reactor (LWR) technology was the dominant technology in the 1970s. Both pressurized and boiling water reactors were large, custom-built projects that faced construction delays and cost overruns. They had their design flaws, too.
Today, we have moved on to third and fourth generation technologies. We have things like advanced LWRs, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), fast reactors, and even small modular reactors (SMRs) designed with modular construction for enhanced flexibility and safety. Many modern reactors include passive safety systems rather than their mechanical counterparts.
It Is Safer Nuclear
Modern nuclear power generation not only performs better, but it is also safer. Back in the 1970s, engineers relied almost exclusively on active safety systems. If there were ever a problem at a reactor, operator intervention was necessary. Safety standards were tightened following the 1979 Three Mile Island accident, but they still don't compare to today's safety standards.
We now use passive safety features as standard. For example, nuclear reactors can shut down safely and automatically with no human intervention necessary. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks have been strengthened. They are more rigorous, focus more on risk assessment, include cybersecurity, and emphasize emergency preparedness in this.
Significantly More Capacity
The icing on the cake for nuclear power generation is a significantly greater capacity in the 2020s. The older reactors of the 1970s required considerably more maintenance and refueling. Therefore, they also suffered more downtime. Modern reactors are capable of 90% up time, increasing total power output. Modern plants can operate for 60-80 years.
We were still figuring out how to safely utilize nuclear power in the 1970s. In the 50 years since, we have all but perfected it. So it is no surprise that New York state is embracing nuclear once again. Will other states follow? We suspect so.
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