Upstate New York Is About To Go Nuclear, Leaving NYC In The Dust

Since the birth of the Atom Bomb, the word "Nuclear" feels like a dirty word. It conjures up images of massive mushroom clouds, deadly waves of radiation, and destruction on a scale we've never seen before.

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The A-Bomb has tarnished the reputation of anything nuclear so badly, that we forget it can be an incredibly helpful tool.

New York is getting ready to change that mindset...

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Nuclear in Upstate New York

New York has a goal: they want to become a zero-emission electric grid. With the amount of fossil fuels used today, that's an impossibility, but it doesn't have to be. In Governor Kathy Hochul's 2026 State of the State, she introduced the Nuclear reliability Backbone.

A Graphic Showing How a Nuclear Chain Reaction Occurs

This initiative's goal is to lay the framework to eventually introduce 5 Gigawatts of nuclear energy across the state, excluding New York City (much to their disproval).

What Does This Look Like Moving Forward?

The first step is getting a new nuclear reactor built in Upstate New York. The proposed new development would contribute 1 Gigawatt to the current electrical grid, and plans to be completed by 2033. The goal is to have it hooked up to the grid and producing energy by 2040.

Sure, this seems like a long time, but with something as massive and sensitive as a nuclear power plant, it's better to take your time.

Once the initial plant is completed, four more will join it, providing power to over 11 Million households across Upstate New York. Multiple communities from across the state are already vying for a spot in the program.