By Earl Hall, Executive Director, Syracuse Builder Exchange
In 2019, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) was passed by the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate, then signed into law by former Governor Andrew Cuomo. This legislation requires New York State to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in 2030, and 85% by 2050 from 1990 levels. In addition, the CLCPA requires establishing a 100% clean electrical grid by 2040.
Recently there has been a renewed interest in nuclear energy to supplement other clean and renewable technologies such as wind, solar and batteries. Elected officials and others engaged in the New York energy industry have realized it is impractical to reach the above noted requirements within the CLCPA without nuclear energy.
With increased demand from large manufacturers, industrial owners, future data centers associated with Aritificial Intelligence (AI) and other rate payers, nuclear energy is required to support those important industries and technologies that require clean, reliable, on-demand power 24/7/365. Micron alone will require 400 megawatts for each of the five potential semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Clay, NY. To put that into perspective, it would take 12,000 acres of solar panels to produce 100 megawatts of power.
Nuclear energy has proven to be the most effective and efficient energy source to assist in replacing fossil fuels. The positive characteristics of nuclear energy include:
- Renewable
- Low-carbon emissions and footprint (four times less than solar)
- Safe and reliable
- Small land footprint
- Clean and efficient
Oswego, New York is home to the largest producer of nuclear energy in New York State. The four nuclear reactors along Lake Ontario (one in Wayne County, three in Oswego) produce 20% of the electricity in the state of New York. The Oswego County community has embraced the nuclear industry over the past 40 years, enjoying the benefits of excellent paying jobs and associated economic development.
The nuclear industry supports nearly half a million jobs in the United States and contributes an estimated $60 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product each year. Nuclear plants can employ up to 700 workers with salaries that are 30% higher than the local average. They also contribute billions of dollars annually to local economies through federal and state tax revenues.
Nuclear energy technology has transformed industry over the past few decades, with today’s nuclear power plants being smaller, safer, and more efficient than their predecessors from the 1980s. Nuclear energy will ensure affordable, safe, secure, and
reliable access to electricity services for New York State’s residential and business consumers, at fair and reasonable rates, while protecting the natural environment.
Advanced nuclear development has led to innovative technologies and efficiencies associated with various Small Modular Reactors (SMR). SMR technologies and capabilities provide different reactors for different solutions. There are grid scale reactors, industrial scale reactors, high temperature gas reactors and micro-reactors which may be deployed in the future to solve unique challenges in society.
Nuclear remains the largest source of clean energy in the United States. It generates nearly 800 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each year and produces more than half of the nation’s emissions-free electricity. This avoids more than 470 million electric tons of carbon each year, which is the equivalent of removing 100 million cars off the road.
To achieve New York’s goals as a leader in economic development, including hosting future data centers and supporting the nation’s most robust semi-conductor manufacturing industry, the Public Service Commission and elected officials in the State of New York must include nuclear energy as an additional clean, renewable energy solution. Now is the time to adopt new, advanced nuclear development technologies to meet immediate and future energy consumption demands of the State of New York, and to comply with the overly aggressive requirements within the 2019 CLCPA.
Sources:
- United States Energy Department
- NYS Public Service Commission
- NYSERDA Future Energy Economy Summit
- NYS Blueprint for Consideration of Advanced Nuclear Energy