New York must move aggressively to confront climate change – but we must understand what that transition looks like in the communities that have powered this state for generations.
In Central New York and across the Mohawk Valley, energy policy has gone hand in hand with good jobs, tax revenue, and the economic future of towns that have too often been asked to absorb change without seeing the promised benefits. Nuclear facilities in our region have long provided stable, middle-class careers — the kind that allow workers to buy homes, raise families, and support local businesses. Those jobs matter, and so does the broader economic foundation they help sustain.
These plants also contribute significantly to local budgets, helping fund schools, infrastructure, and essential public services. When people in Albany or New York City talk about shutting down nuclear generation without a clear replacement strategy, communities like mine hear uncertainty about their livelihoods. They hear concern about rising energy costs and whether new investment will ever arrive.
New York’s clean energy goals are among the most ambitious in the nation. Meeting them will require building massive amounts of renewable generation, expanding energy storage, and modernizing our electric grid. It will also require maintaining and expanding reliable, carbon free power while that transformation takes place. Nuclear energy plays an vital role in providing that stability.
We should be realistic about the scale of the challenge ahead. Demand for electricity is expected to grow as more transportation and building transition to all-electric. Businesses considering where to invest look closely at energy reliability and cost. Workers deciding whether to stay in upstate communities want to know there will be opportunities in the industries of the future. A serious clean energy strategy must account for all of these realities.
That is why exploring next-generation nuclear technology just makes sense. Advanced reactors have the potential to create new manufacturing and construction jobs, attract research partnerships, and position New York as a leader in clean energy innovation. They can complement renewable resources and help ensure that the transition to a lower-carbon economy strengthens rather than weakens regional economies.
Supporting nuclear power does not mean slowing progress on wind, solar, and battery storage. It means recognizing that a balanced approach will better serve ratepayers, workers, and the environment. Let’s plan for the future in a way that reflects the lived experience of upstate communities that have long carried a disproportionate share of the state’s energy infrastructure.
New Yorkers deserve climate leadership that is both bold and practical. The path forward should build on the strengths of every region, protect good-paying union jobs, and keep energy affordable for families and businesses. Nuclear power has been part of our state’s success story for decades. With thoughtful investment, it can continue to help drive economic growth while supporting the transition to a carbon-free energy system.
The workers and communities who helped power New York in the past should be front and center to its energy future. And a clean energy strategy that includes nuclear power is the most responsible way to move forward together.
Chris Ryan serves as State Senator for New York’s 50th district.
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