MASSENA – Assemblyman Scott Gray is at the forefront of the nuclear power discussion in New York, continuing to advocate for a diversified strategy to reduce soaring electric costs amid Governor Kathy Hochul’s push to place the state on a path toward full electrification.
A proponent of revisiting the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) of 2019, Gray has said that while electrification and decarbonization of the grid may be necessary, they are ultimately unattainable given the current state of the grid.
Coupled with rising energy costs, a lack of critical infrastructure, and requests to increase power usage rates even further, Gray said it’s time to revisit the bill and reset the timeline it outlines.
“The objectives of the CLCPA are admirable; however, we’re simply not prepared for that type of expansion of our energy sources when demand for electricity is going up at an exponential rate,” he said in a press release.
Under the CLCPA, deadlines have been set for 2030 and 2035 to transition new construction to all-electric appliance hookups and heating and cooling systems. The legislation also calls for the electrification of school bus fleets, highway department equipment, and various forms of transportation throughout the state.
Those plans have forced many school districts and municipalities to revisit budgets and explore alternatives, as future expenses are expected to increase sharply in the not-too-distant future.
In his statement, Gray said a nuclear facility—or rather, multiple facilities—may be exactly what is needed as both new and legacy technologies demand more and more power.
Whether it be data centers, artificial intelligence, or chip manufacturing—all major energy consumers—Gray said these technologies are driving demand faster than the marketplace can respond, continuing to drive up costs for consumers.
“We cannot meet the goals with renewables. It takes about three megawatts of renewables to make up for one megawatt of traditional fossil fuels or natural gas. Nuclear is base-load, reliable, dispatchable energy, and it creates good-quality jobs both in construction and ongoing operations,” Gray said.
Although nuclear power was not part of the initial discussion when the CLCPA was passed, Hochul has since pivoted toward the technology as a major power generation source to meet the legislation’s deadlines.
Gray said the effort is a bipartisan one, being spearheaded by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), which Hochul has directed to lead the project.
“It’s refreshing to see a direction that is bipartisan. We have the federal administration headstrong into this issue, and the governor is on board. By all accounts, everybody is working well together to advance this issue forward,” Gray said.
Gray noted that his district, which encompasses a large portion of St. Lawrence County, is an ideal location for such a facility.
“Right here in Massena, we have the St. Lawrence Power Project, a hydro facility producing about a thousand megawatts. We also have Arconic and Alcoa—that’s why GM was originally here. Expanding that existing footprint would make sense. Large manufacturers already locate near these facilities, and the sooner we can safely stand up new projects, the better for our entire economy. Jobs will be created, and importantly, the community is already experienced in working with NYPA and negotiating host benefits. Massena is one of the best-positioned locations in upstate New York,” Gray said.
One gigawatt will be produced using nuclear technology under Hochul’s directive, which will be overseen by NYPA.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is also exploring nuclear technology.
Gray said he is focused on gauging community willingness to be a host location for a nuclear facility.
“As a community, we’ve already raised our hand,” Gray continued.
“Through my office, we are building support for this type of generation. Earlier this summer, we hosted an event in Alexandria Bay, and two more public events are planned. Fort Drum is also being considered for a micro-reactor project.”
Gray said the move toward nuclear power will have a “generational impact” unlike anything seen in the last 75 years.
“We have not seen this type of expansion of any industry—certainly not any energy generation source—in a lifetime. As we move forward, this will be a true generational movement.”
