Hochul Shocks Her Base: First Large U.S. Nuclear Plant in Decades Gets Green Light

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to build a new advanced nuclear power plant, the first of its kind in the U.S. in nearly two decades. In a surprising alliance, she’s working with the Trump administration to speed up federal approvals and bypass long-standing red tape.

Key Facts:

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the New York Power Authority to build a zero-emission nuclear plant.
This will be the first large-scale nuclear facility approved in the U.S. in nearly 20 years.
The plant will replace over 2 gigawatts of fossil fuel capacity recently shut down in the state.
Hochul is collaborating with President Trump to speed up federal regulatory approvals.
Site selection will focus on infrastructure compatibility, safety, labor availability, and community support.

The Rest of The Story:

Governor Hochul’s office announced that the New York Power Authority (NYPA), working with the Department of Public Service, will develop a new advanced nuclear power plant with a minimum capacity of one gigawatt.

This initiative comes in response to the state’s growing power needs after closing down over 2 gigawatts of fossil fuel capacity for environmental reasons.

Hochul emphasized the importance of breaking through federal barriers that have made nuclear energy projects drag on for up to a decade.

“There’s a reason people don’t embrace nuclear energy… it just takes too long,” she said.

Hochul also confirmed that she’s spoken directly with President Trump about cutting through the red tape to make this plant a reality.

The state aims to develop a “model of 21st-century nuclear design” that incorporates automatic safety systems and stringent environmental standards.

Hochul framed the project as essential to ensuring a reliable, affordable, and sustainable power grid for the state’s future.

Government shouldn't delay growth — it should help drive it.

We are going to act boldly, building upstate's first nuclear power plant in a generation.

Because if New York wants to keep being an economic powerhouse, we need clean, affordable, abundant power. pic.twitter.com/p23tIT0ieo

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) June 23, 2025

Commentary:

The push for nuclear power in New York marks a dramatic turnaround for those who once dismissed the energy source as too risky or too slow to develop.

For decades, environmental activists and their political allies demonized nuclear energy, while pouring billions into unreliable and inefficient wind and solar farms.

Now, with AI data centers, electric vehicles, and an electrified economy demanding massive amounts of stable energy, the truth is too obvious to ignore: nuclear works.

Unlike solar panels that depend on the weather or wind farms that freeze up in winter, nuclear power delivers constant, clean, and efficient electricity.

And it does so without the environmental destruction caused by bird-frying solar arrays or ocean-disrupting wind turbines.

It’s almost humorous that it took the demands of server farms and tech expansion to nudge some leaders back to common sense.

Hochul, who has never been a friend of fossil fuels or conservative energy policies, is finally admitting what many on the right have said for years—there’s no green future without nuclear power.

This decision also validates the Trump administration’s stance on cutting bureaucratic red tape and streamlining the approval process for critical infrastructure.

Trump’s willingness to work across the aisle to support nuclear advancement stands in contrast to previous administrations that catered to environmental lobbies at the expense of energy security.

In this case, Hochul deserves some credit.

Her decision to prioritize abundant and reliable energy, even if it bucks her party’s traditional line, is a rare moment of practicality.

She’s placing economic and energy needs above political posturing, and that’s commendable.

It remains to be seen whether New York’s far-left legislators will support the plan or try to sabotage it with more regulations.

But for now, the move sets an important precedent: when energy demand gets serious, only serious solutions like nuclear power will do.

The Bottom Line:

New York is launching a major nuclear energy project with support from both Governor Hochul and President Trump—a rare bipartisan alignment focused on cutting red tape and securing clean, reliable energy.

The move acknowledges the hard truth: green dreams alone can’t power a modern economy.

Nuclear may finally get the respect it deserves—and not a moment too soon.