In June, Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and construct a zero-emission advanced nuclear power plant in upstate New York.
The idea is that the state needs more power to meet growing demands on the electric grid from data centers and massive economic development projects like Micron.
At the same time, off-shore wind, another source of carbon-free power, is being halted by the Trump administration, which believes it’s a national security risk.
Supporters of nuclear energy argue it provides reliable, zero-emission electricity. Opponents say it’s too costly on multiple levels.
Capital Tonight spoke with two experts with opposing views on the issue.
Joseph Romm is former acting assistant U.S. secretary of energy, and a senior research fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media.
His latest research is titled, “New York’s Nuclear Anti-Affordability Fiasco: Why the State’s Deeply Flawed Energy Plan Would Explode Electricity Rates.”
Romm argues that because nuclear reactors can take 10 years or more to build, it’s the only form of energy for which rates can rise before a plant is even operational.
He claims that New York’s plans for new reactors will be a huge burden on ratepayers, comparable to what residents of Georgia experienced during the construction of the twin Vogtle reactors.
The Vogtle reactors are some of the most expensive in the world; they are a good comparison for New York since they are the only two reactors that have been built in this century.
New York has a checkered history with nuclear power.
While the state currently relies on several older nuclear power plants to provide 20% of its energy, the Shoreham plant on Long Island was an infamous boondoggle, increasing rates for consumers yet never providing power before permanently shutting down.
But Gov. Hochul’s argument that the state needs more energy is supported by the New York Independent System Operator.
The NYISO released a report in 2025 stating the state’s electric system may need several thousand megawatts (MW) of new dispatchable generation by 2034.
When asked how the state should react to that need, Romm responded that the state should put a moratorium on the building of new data centers.
“The data is clear. Data centers have led to a massive increase in electricity costs, particularly wholesale energy prices,” he said.
Romm pointed to the city of Buffalo where he claims wholesale electricity prices have tripled since 2020.
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.”
Romm said that for some nuclear plants, the capital investment wouldn’t be paid off for closer to 50 years.
When asked about Romm’s recommendation that New York place a moratorium on the building of data centers, Seneviratne agreed that data centers are the key drivers of the demand in electricity, but said it’s not the only driver.
“There is a huge re-industrialization going on and the essential thing that they need is on-demand energy,” he said. “If New York wants to stay competitive in an industrialized world, it needs to provide energy to industrial consumers.”