The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has been ordered by the state government to build a 1 GW nuclear power plant, either alone or in partnership with private entities. The NYPA has yet to decide on the technologies, business models, and locations for this first nuclear power plant, considering either a single reactor or small modular reactors (SMRs). Under its Climate Act, New York State is required to cut economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and by at least 85% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels.
New York State generates about 20% of its electricity from three nuclear plants operated by Constellation Energy: Ginna (0.6 GW), FitzPatrick (0.9 GW), and Nine Mile Point (1.9 GW), all commissioned roughly 40 years ago on average. The company has shown interest in the project.
Over the past 30 years, only three new reactors have been brought online in the United States. Earlier in May 2025, the US administration signed a series of executive orders aimed at accelerating the development of new nuclear power plants. Companies like Google and Microsoft have signed in recent months several power purchase agreements with nuclear projects, either through restarting plants or using SMRs. States like Illinois, Montana, and Wisconsin have lifted bans on new nuclear plants.
In 2024, the US nuclear capacity amounted to 102 GW (8% of installed capacity), with 95 reactors currently in operation. The nuclear capacity is expected to decline sharply until 2033, to approximately 80 GW, with seven reactors planned to be stopped by 2026. The US aims to deploy 200 GW of new nuclear capacity by 2050.
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