New York Eyes Five Nuclear Facilities Statewide

Eight communities applied to host one new nuclear facility as the state moves toward developing at least five sites.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Nuclear

Photograph of a pale concrete cooling tower beside a dark still lake under overcast skies, with a transmission line crossing farmland. — Eight New York communities have applied to host a new nuclear facility as the state moves to develop at least five sites, with Fort Drum already selected. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your community host a new nuclear power facility?

Eight New York communities have submitted applications to host a new nuclear facility, and the state is now planning to construct five such facilities. Fort Drum has already been selected as one site, while four of the seven remaining communities are still under consideration.

Why it matters

Gov. Kathy Hochul called in June 2025 for the New York Power Authority to develop at least 1 GW of nuclear capacity upstate, citing reliability, affordability and clean energy capacity concerns. The effort is intended to address how the state will meet its future power needs.

Eight applications were submitted for a single new facility, and the state now targets five facilities in total, with Fort Drum already chosen and four of seven other communities still under review. Which remaining communities will host the additional sites has not been determined.

The players

Kathy Hochul

Governor of New York who called on the New York Power Authority to develop at least 1 GW of nuclear capacity in upstate New York.

New York Power Authority

The state public power authority that was asked to develop nuclear capacity in upstate New York.

The details

Dunkirk's Planning and Development Director submitted an application on the city's behalf, focusing on repurposing the former NRG power plant near Point Gratiot. Chautauqua County and Dunkirk officials have pursued the project, and a Nuclear 101 community event has been proposed to answer public questions about nuclear energy.

June 2025: Gov. Kathy Hochul called on the New York Power Authority to develop at least 1 GW of nuclear capacity upstate.
About six months later: Dunkirk submitted its nuclear facility application.
Summer 2026: A nuclear energy forum for leaders was held at SUNY Fredonia.
Fall 2026: Jamestown Community College was awarded a $1.29 million nuclear workforce grant.

Big Picture

The local applications extend Gov. Kathy Hochul's June 2025 directive that the New York Power Authority develop at least 1 GW of nuclear capacity upstate, turning that statewide goal into concrete site competition among communities. The state's current plan of five facilities is the next step beyond that directive.

New York residents in the eight applicant communities could see nuclear facilities built nearby, which would bring construction and workforce opportunities. Jamestown Community College's $1.29 million grant funds a nuclear manufacturing micro-credential and a welder certification pathway for local workers.

The takeaway

Residents interested in the proposals can watch for the Nuclear 101 community event and public updates as the four remaining communities are evaluated. The state's five-facility target means additional site decisions are still ahead.