Opposition grows to Gov. Hochul’s plan to add nuclear power plants

(ALBANY, N.Y.) — A group of anti-nuclear power activists is urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to abandon plans to add up to five nuclear power plants. The group claims that power plant construction is prone to cost overruns, creates hazardous waste, and should be replaced by an increase in renewable energy sources like solar or wind.

Activists are worried that climate change will lead to hotter summers that will strain the state’s power grid.

“We’re expecting to see three times more 90-degree days in the summer,” said Ethan Gormley, legislative coordinator for Citizen Action of New York. While he’s worried about climate change, he’s also concerned about Hochul’s plans to add up to five new nuclear plants. The first could be in operation by 2032, now that the state has called for bids to build a 1-gigawatt plant somewhere in upstate New York.

Hochul’s office released a white paper earlier this month, laying out options for up to 5 gigawatts of nuclear power generation. Options include building five plants or up to 20 small reactors.

That white paper anticipates cost overruns for the construction. It also puts New York taxpayers on the hook for between $15.3-billion and $23.9-billion over the first 25 years the plants are operating.

“(Nuclear plants) are too slow to build and deploy, they are too expensive, and they’re too dangerous with an unsolvable waste problem,” Gormley said.

He pointed out that it flies in the face of lawmakers’ claims that they are making energy more affordable.

“We cannot afford to gamble with this nuclear pipe dream,” Gormley said.

Ken Lovett, an advisor to Hochul, said, “No one solution will solve New York’s energy challenges, no matter what some will have you believe. Analysis has shown that the availability of nuclear power is key to achieving the most cost-effective approach to meet New York’s future energy needs. Governor Hochul remains committed to a clean energy future and has been clear that her plans for a Nuclear Reliability Backbone are a critical element of her all-of-the-above approach that will help provide needed around-the-clock, reliable, safe, and emissions-free power to keep the lights on and costs down for New Yorkers.”