Four towers in a nuclear energy plant.

New York plans new nuclear plant to meet growing power demand

New York will build a new nuclear power plant to supply electricity to up to one million homes, part of a broader pivot back to nuclear energy amid growing demand and grid reliability concerns.

Patrick McGeehan and Brad Plumer report for The New York Times.


In short:

  • Governor Kathy Hochul announced the plan without specifying the plant’s location, timeline, or cost, but said it would be managed by the New York Power Authority and seek private investment.
  • The plant is intended to replace power lost when the Indian Point nuclear plant closed in 2021, which led to increased fossil fuel use and delayed shutdowns of older gas-burning plants.
  • The move aligns with a national trend as other states and tech companies also return to nuclear energy to meet round-the-clock demand without greenhouse gas emissions.

Key quote:

“This is not your grandparents’ nuclear reactor. You’re not going to see this in a movie starring Jane Fonda.”

— Kathy Hochul, governor of New York

Why this matters:

As electricity demand surges — driven in part by A.I. data centers and chip manufacturing — states are scrambling to secure stable, low-emissions power sources. Nuclear energy, once on the decline, is now making a comeback thanks to its ability to produce steady, carbon-free electricity around the clock. But new projects come with high costs, long timelines, and public skepticism, especially over radioactive waste and safety. New York’s reversal on Indian Point’s closure illustrates the difficulty of balancing climate goals with grid reliability. With renewables still limited by storage and intermittency, the debate over how best to transition off fossil fuels is intensifying — and nuclear is back at the center of it.

Related: New York revisits nuclear energy as emissions rise

satellite flying in space.
Credit: NASA/Unsplash

EPA plan to halt emissions reporting faces satellite-powered reality check

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to let fossil fuel facilities stop reporting greenhouse gas emissions, but satellites, aircraft, and other independent tools are already tracking methane and carbon dioxide leaks worldwide.

Karin Kirk reports for Yale Climate Connections.

Keep reading...Show less
Two small grasswren birds huddled on red dirt on a sunny day.

Tropical bird numbers plummet as extreme heat reshapes habitats

A global study tracking 3,000 bird species over 70 years has linked climate-driven extreme heat to steep population declines in the tropics, with some species losing more than a third of their numbers.

Will Murray reports for ABC News.

Keep reading...Show less
The Sierra Club logo shown on a closeup of the organization's webpage.

Sierra Club fires executive director Ben Jealous after internal investigation

The Sierra Club board has fired Ben Jealous, citing misconduct after months of internal strife, budget cuts, and staff no-confidence votes.

Lee Hedgepeth reports for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
Oil export ships and cranes at a dock in the daytime.

Patagonia oil export terminal plan alarms scientists and residents over wildlife threat

Residents, scientists, and tour operators in Patagonia are warning that Argentina’s planned largest crude oil export terminal could devastate marine ecosystems, harm endangered species, and threaten local livelihoods.

Harriet Barber reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
Coal mining equipment digging into a coal seam.

Coal mine dispute in UK sparks investor-state legal battle over climate ruling

Investors in a canceled coal mine in northern England have launched an international arbitration case against the UK government, challenging a court’s decision that blocked the project over its projected carbon emissions.

Katie Surma reports for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
A flooded field with green forested hills in the background.

West Virginia launches long-delayed flood risk studies after years of stalled funding

West Virginia will partner with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on long-awaited studies to assess flood risks in two river basins, nearly a decade after devastating floods killed 23 people in 2016.

Sarah Elbeshbishi reports for Mountain State Spotlight.

Keep reading...Show less
Commercial fishing boats at dock.

Court blocks commercial fishing in massive Pacific marine reserve

A federal judge in Hawaii has reinstated a ban on commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage marine national monument, rejecting Trump administration efforts to loosen protections.

Coral Murphy Marcos reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro speaks with the state flag and American flag behind him.

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

silhouette of people holding hands by a lake at sunset

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

wildfire retardants being sprayed by plane

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.