Why Nuclear?

Nuclear power is the most reliable and scalable carbon-free energy ever created. Its tiny land and material footprint makes it the greenest energy on Earth. Beyond electricity, advanced nuclear technology can supply process heat for industry, support thermal energy networks, produce low-carbon fuels to decarbonize other sectors, and generate life-saving medical isotopes. Nuclear offers quality, family-sustaining, multi-generational jobs and tax revenue that underpin vibrant, healthy, and prosperous communities.

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Latest News and Events

PRESS RELEASE: New York Embraces Historic Nuclear Leadership Through Programmatic Deployment, Globally Proven to Drive Costs Down

January 13, 2026

Nuclear New York celebrates Governor Kathy Hochul’s unprecedented commitment to advanced nuclear energy as a cornerstone of New York’s clean energy future. By setting a goal of five gigawatts of new nuclear, the Governor has embraced the strategic framework that positions New York to lead the nation in cost-effective, programmatic nuclear deployment.

Governor Hochul stated, “Our initiative to create a nuclear reliability backbone for New York will ensure safe, around-the-clock, emission-free power to help keep the lights on and rates down.” This follows her June 2025 statement “to power New York’s future, we need three things: reliability, affordability, and sustainability, and nuclear drives all three.”

“Should New York Pursue More Nuclear Power? Here are Two Opinions on It” on Capital Tonight on Spectrum News (featuring Isuru Seneviratne of Nuclear NY)

January 8, 2026

For another perspective, Capital Tonight spoke with Isuru Seneviratne, an energy finance expert who sits on the executive board of Nuclear NY, “a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization working towards a prosperous decarbonized future and nature conservation.”

Seneviratne said voters have consistently said they value three energy attributes, in this order: reliability, affordability and sustainability. Nuclear, he argues, is the most scalable of all energy sources.

When asked about its high costs, he said that “any investment should be measured against what you get from it, not just the sticker price.” Since nuclear provides on-demand energy with minimal price volatility — unlike gas — it’s a good option. He also cited a poll which shows that 1.7 Georgians (where the Vogtle plants are located) support nuclear power for each person who opposes it.

Another argument for nuclear, according to Seneviratne, is the longer lifetime of the energy asset. The lifetime of a wind power facility is 25 years; while the lifetime of a nuclear plant is 80 years. “Once you pay off your capital in the next 20 to 30 years, then your actual cost (after) that is something like $30 – $35 dollars,” he said. “That’s an investment that Georgia has made in its future.”

New York State Energy Plan Supports Prosperity and Climate Action with Nuclear

December 16, 2025

Albany, NY – Nuclear New York and Mothers for Nuclear applaud action taken by the New York State Energy Planning Board, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and Governor Kathy Hochul to advance a New York State Energy Plan that tackles climate change while providing a more achievable, balanced, and forward-looking vision of the future.

Read our full press release here.

Two-Day North Country Nuclear Energy Public Forum

hosted by Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-NY-116)

Wednesday, November 12, 2025
6:00pm-8:00pm
Sturtz Theater
Jefferson Community College
Watertown, NY

Thursday, November 13, 2025
5:30pm-7:30pm
Student Center Forum
Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY

Nuclear Symposium 2025: Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation

Wednesday, September 24, 2025
9:30am to 5:00pm

Verizon Executive Education Center
Cornell Tech Campus New York, NY

(with networking after party mixer on rooftop bar, 5:00pm-7:00pm)

Isuru Seneviratne of Nuclear New York joins Governor Hochul, NYPA, Labor & Workforce Leaders to Discuss Scaling the Advanced Nuclear Workforce in New York

September 4, 2025

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the convening of an advanced nuclear energy workforce roundtable in New York City. The event, hosted by the New York Power Authority, brought together leaders from across New York, the U.S. and Canada for a facilitated discussion on the future of the nuclear workforce and opportunities to accelerate training and apprenticeship programs to support the expected expansion of jobs in the nuclear energy sector.

Nuclear NY Co-Founder Isuru Seneviratne said, “For a clean energy transition to be successful, it must be advantageous for the workers responsible for delivering it. That means uplifting the quality of work and wages of current fossil fuel workers, while generating new community-sustaining opportunities. We applaud the leadership demonstrated by the advanced nuclear workforce roundtable and will continue to support Governor Hochul’s efforts to develop nuclear in New York.”

“Another Perspective on Nuclear Power: Nuclear NY” on Capital Tonight on Spectrum News (featuring Eric Dawson of Nuclear NY)

July 3, 2025

“One of those proponents joined Capital Tonight. Eric Dawson is co-founder of Nuclear NY, an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit advocacy group working toward a decarbonized future.”

Governor Hochul Directs New York Power Authority to Develop a Zero-Emission Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology Power Plant

June 23, 2025

Governor Kathy Hochul directed the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and construct a zero-emission advanced nuclear power plant in Upstate New York, of at least 1 gigawatts, to support a reliable and affordable electric grid, while providing the necessary zero-emission electricity to achieve a clean energy economy.

Nuclear New York Chair Dietmar Detering said, “With her action today, Governor Hochul is making the smartest use of public power. Nuclear energy is not new to NYPA—it has built and operated reactors for decades. By directing the Power Authority to develop advanced nuclear capacity, the Governor is building upon that legacy to address today’s climate and reliability challenges. This is bold, practical leadership that will benefit generations of New Yorkers.”

NNY Deep Dive

CONNECT NY’s “New Nuclear Energy” on WCNY PBS (featuring Eric Dawson of Nuclear NY)

March-April, 2025 (1-hour)

Watch online at PBS

Host David Lombardo leads a panel discussion about the future of nuclear power in the Empire State guests Matt Moses, Co-chair of the Project Development Practice or Barclay Damon; Tim Judson, Executive Director of the NIRS; and Eric Dawson, of Nuclear New York. They discuss impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, public safety, and energy costs of existing and new nuclear power.