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Letters: Governor's nuclear power plan should be celebrated

2 0
08.07.2025

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We should all celebrate that Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the New York Power Authority to develop new nuclear power in New York ("Hochul orders creation of nuclear plant," June 24. This is a momentous occasion as the announcement acknowledges the need for clean, carbon-free power, delivered in abundance, that cannot be supplied by wind and solar alone.

Such a project represents the first new nuclear power plant in New York in a generation and will kickstart an industry that is desperately needed to offset the use of fossil fuels and provide reliable energy to communities in need, while simultaneously assisting in avoiding vast land grabs for sprawling solar farms.

This also signifies New York's reversal from the dismal decision to decommission the Indian Point plant that supplied a significant amount of carbon-free electricity to New York City, which now has to rely more heavily on fossil fuels for energy.

NYPA will be in charge of building the new plant. Although having a New York entity leading this charge is not ideal, it will be best for a highly regulated state to open the door leading to further development and realistic clean energy solutions. Nuclear energy is the best option we have to meet New York’s clean energy goals and provide electricity available year-round for everyone.

Published July 7, 2025

Jade Eddy supported in her commentary, “Failure to pass Bottle Bill will cost jobs, harm environment,” June 16, the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill, which died in the Assembly this session, along with two dozen other environmental bills that had been passed in the Senate.

After this almost-perfect record of climate change inaction, it is tempting to look for a villain. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie fits the role. He claims that he was personally in favor of the bills, but there just weren’t enough votes for it. Yet he let the bills simmer in committees long enough for lobbyists from plastics and petroleum interests to do their work.

Dividing the political landscape between villains and victims, however, is........

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