Public Power NY Responds to Hochul’s Order for New York Power Authority to Build Nuclear Energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 23, 2025

Public Power NY Responds to Hochul’s Order for New York Power Authority to Build Nuclear Energy

Albany, New York – Following President Trump’s promise to expedite permitting, Governor Kathy Hochul has directed the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to build a gigawatt (GW) of new nuclear energy.

The Public Power NY Coalition released the following statement: “NYPA has the power and mandate to build 15GW of renewables and should not let Trump promises lead New Yorkers away from it. After appointing a Republican to lead NYPA while remaining silent on its mandate to build wind and solar, Hochul’s decision to step in based on promises from Donald Trump shows just how unserious she is about New Yorker’s energy bills and climate future. NYPA should be laser focused on rapidly scaling up their buildout of affordable solar and wind which is the only way to meet the state’s science-based climate goals and lower energy bills.”

After a powerful, four year-long campaign, New Yorkers won the most transformational climate and green jobs bill in the nation in May 2023 with the passage of the Build Public Renewables Act (BPRA) which authorizes NYPA to build and own renewable energy projects. New Yorkers, legislators and several towns have called on NYPA to build at least 15GW of public renewables by 2030 to be in compliance with the State’s own Climate Action Council scoping plan and meet the legally mandated goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).

Under the leadership of CEO Justin Drsicoll, NYPA’s initial plan to implement the BPRA proposed a paltry 3GW of renewable energy with very few projects planned for the Hudson Valley and downstate New York, where electricity demand is greatest. Following massive public outcry, NYPA says it will add an additional 3GW of projects.

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Note to the editor:

About Public Power NY

Public Power NY is a movement fighting to ensure New York effectively carries out the Build Public Renewables Act by building 15 Gigawatts of public renewables by 2030. Hailed as the first statewide Green New Deal law, BPRA was written by PPNY and passed in 2023 thanks to four years of organizing by a multiracial, multi-generational movement of climate and advocacy organizations, labor unions representing millions of New Yorkers and tens of thousands of New Yorkers who have taken action from upstate, downstate, and everywhere in between. With federal climate action off the table, BPRA has enabled NY to not just play defense against Trump, but lead the way the way FDR created NYPA to do.