Over the past year, New York State has taken a series of coordinated actions signaling a shift in how State leadership is positioning nuclear energy within its strategy to achieve a zero-emissions electric grid. Ranging from planned construction and operation of new advanced nuclear generation, to the extension of the Zero-Emissions Credit program supporting the existing fleet, to development of programs and initiatives to support the growth of future nuclear projects, these actions demonstrate New York’s growing commitment to using nuclear energy as a tool to both reach New York’s zero-emissions goals and support grid reliability.
Plans for New Nuclear Generation
New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced a new nuclear initiative: the Nuclear Reliability Backbone for a Zero-Emission Grid (the Nuclear Reliability Backbone). The initiative frames nuclear generation as a foundational reliability resource necessary to support both grid stability and the State’s decarbonization goals. As described by Gov. Hochul’s administration, the Nuclear Reliability Backbone envisions an approximately 8.4-gigawatt (GW) portfolio of nuclear resources supporting New York’s electric system. That backbone would be anchored by roughly 3.4 GW of existing nuclear generation, which has provided zero-emission baseload power to New York for decades, and would be supplemented by 4 GW of new nuclear capacity to be developed through a forthcoming process overseen by the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS).
In addition to the DPS-led development pathway, the Nuclear Reliability Backbone also incorporates at least 1 GW of advanced nuclear generation to be developed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA). In June 2025, Gov, Hochul directed NYPA, through its authority under Section 1005 of the NY Public Authorities Law, to develop and construct a minimum of 1 GW of zero-emission advanced nuclear capacity in Upstate New York. That directive marked the first time in decades that NYPA has been explicitly tasked with pursuing new nuclear development. NYPA is in the process of evaluating responses to its solicitation for input from both potential host communities and experienced nuclear developers or development partners. This directive, with the announcement of the Nuclear Reliability Backbone initiative, demonstrates in concrete terms New York’s commitment to nuclear generation as a means to achieve a reliable zero-emission grid.
Workforce Development as a Foundation for Advanced Nuclear
As New York moves from high-level planning toward implementation of new nuclear generation, it has also begun to address a central practical constraint on advanced nuclear deployment: the availability of a skilled, in-state workforce capable of supporting development, construction and long-term operations.
For example, at the Advanced Nuclear NY Summit convened in October 2025, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) brought together supply chain participants, workforce developers and economic stakeholders to assess readiness gaps and coordination opportunities in advanced nuclear deployment. The NextGen Nuclear New York initiative – designed to align education, training and apprenticeship pathways with anticipated needs of planned advanced nuclear projects – is another example of the State’s focus on rebuilding nuclear-adjacent labor pipelines that have atrophied over decades of limited domestic nuclear construction.
NYPA is also focusing funding and engagement efforts on workforce development. Specifically, NYPA’s Board of Trustees recently approved $40 million in new nuclear workforce development, intended to directly support the Gov. Hochul’s June 2025 directive for NYPA to develop at least 1 GW of advanced nuclear generation in Upstate New York by ensuring qualified labor resources are available as projects advance beyond the planning stage. Beginning this year, NYPA plans to deploy the funding over a four-year period through partnerships with technical high schools, community colleges, universities, labor unions and other qualified workforce development providers, with a focus on nuclear-specific technical training, retraining, coursework and apprenticeship programs.
NYPA’s focus on funding is complemented by ongoing stakeholder engagement. In September 2025, NYPA convened a nuclear workforce roundtable, bringing together education providers, labor organizations and industry participants to clarify roles and explore collaborative approaches to scaling training capacity. According to NYPA, these discussions focused on aligning curricula, credentialing and apprenticeship models with the anticipated requirements of advanced nuclear projects expected to move forward under the Nuclear Reliability Backbone framework.
Although the tangible benefits of these recent workforce developments may not become apparent for years to come, these investments signal the State’s commitment to positioning nuclear generation as a long-term solution to achieve New York’s zero-emission goals.
International, Interstate and Federal Coordination
In parallel with in-state planning, siting and workforce investments, New York is also looking beyond its borders to accelerate progress toward its nuclear objectives. Through cross-border partnerships, multistate coordination and engagement with federal permitting pathways, New York is seeking to leverage external expertise, mitigate first-mover risk and shorten development timelines.
At the international level, Gov. Hochul entered into an agreement with Ontario Premier Doug Ford to support advanced nuclear technology development. Pursuant to that agreement, NYPA and Ontario Power Generation executed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for collaboration on advanced nuclear technologies, specifically providing for information sharing on technical development, nuclear financing and economics and workforce development.
At the interstate level, New York is participating as co-chair in the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative, pursuant to which 11 states are coordinating to reduce costs, mitigate first-of-a-kind project risk and support public-private partnerships capable of delivering new firm capacity to the grid.
Finally, New York is engaging with federal permitting and funding mechanisms to advance project readiness. In 2025, NYSERDA joined Constellation Energy Corporation to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to support pursuit of an early site permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for one or more advanced reactors at the Nine Mile Point Clean Energy Center. DOE decisions on awardees are expected in early summer.
Clean Energy Standard and the ZEC Extension
In addition to initiatives on the state level and beyond, New York’s nuclear policy continues to be shaped through proceedings before the New York State Public Service Commission (the Commission), particularly Case 15-E-0302, the Commission’s long-running proceeding implementing the State’s Clean Energy Standard (CES). Adopted in 2016 and subsequently modified to align with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), the CES established, among other things, procurement obligations for load serving entities through Zero Emission Credits (ZECs) to preserve the environmental and reliability attributes of New York’s existing nuclear fleet.
The original ZEC program (ZEC 1.0) is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2029. Recognizing that the loss of existing nuclear capacity would materially undermine New York’s zero-emissions mandate, the Commission directed DPS staff in May 2025 to evaluate whether, and how, the ZEC program should be extended beyond that date.
In response, DPS Staff issued a Zero-Emissions Credit Program Extension Proposal on July 31, 2025, concluding that New York cannot meet the CLCPA’s 2040 zero-emissions target without preserving its existing nuclear fleet, which currently supplies more than 20 percent of statewide electricity and avoids over 13 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The Proposal recommends extending the ZEC program through 2049, providing the revenue stability necessary for aging nuclear units – such as Ginna and Nine Mile Point Unit 1 – to pursue subsequent license renewals and continue operating as clean, firm capacity in an increasingly renewable-heavy grid.
Following the DPS’s recent issuance of a Final Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the Zero-Emissions Credit Program Extension Proposal, the Commission approved the extension on Jan. 22, 2026, providing necessary financial support to allow upstate nuclear generators to continue operating. The Commission further directed NYSERDA to develop and file an updated ZEC implementation plan to reflect the Commission’s extension order.
Charting a Path Forward for Nuclear Development
Looking ahead, New York’s nuclear initiatives are expected to be increasingly shaped by the ongoing Master Plan for Responsible Advanced Nuclear Development (the Master Plan). Launched by Gov. Hochul in January 2025 and led by NYSERDA and DPS, the Master Plan builds on the Blueprint for Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies (the Blueprint) and is intended to provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating whether, and under what conditions, advanced nuclear technologies should be deployed in New York. While the Blueprint stopped short of endorsing specific projects, it identified advanced nuclear as a potential source of clean, dispatchable capacity needed to address projected reliability gaps. The Blueprint also outlined key policy considerations, including safety, cost containment, siting, environmental justice, workforce readiness and waste management. The forthcoming Master Plan, expected by the end of this year, is anticipated to translate those considerations into concrete recommendations that will guide future State decision-making as New York moves from high-level planning toward implementation of new nuclear resources.
Our Energy Industry Team is tracking developments in nuclear energy and all other energy-related issues. If you have questions, please reach out to attorney John T. McManus at (518) 701-2734 and jmcmanus@harrisbeachmurtha.com; attorney Jeffrey D. Kuhn at (518) 701-2746 and jkuhn@harrisbeachmurtha.com; attorney Joshua Schneider at (518) 701-2744 and jschneider@harrisbeachmurtha.com; attorney Molly E. Behan at (203) 772-7716 and mbehan@harrisbeachmurtha.com; or the Harris Beach Murtha attorney with whom you most frequently work.
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