Oswego, NY — already within 10 miles of three nuclear reactors — is campaigning to host a fourth after New York committed to adding 1 GW of new nuclear capacity to help power growing AI demand. Supporters emphasize reliable, low‑carbon electricity and local jobs; opponents point to safety fears, long construction timelines and unresolved waste storage. U.S. projects such as Plant Vogtle highlight frequent delays and large cost overruns, so any new plant’s benefits for Oswego would likely be more than a decade away.
Oswego — A Town of Three Reactors — Wants a Fourth as New York Pushes 1 GW of Nuclear
An image of a smokestack next to a power line
Oswego, New York, already sits amid a concentration of nuclear generation and is now campaigning to host another plant after Gov. Kathy Hochul pledged to add one gigawatt of new nuclear capacity to the state’s grid — in part to meet rising electricity demand from the expanding AI industry.
The city’s proximity to existing stations (Nine Mile Point Units 1 and 2 and the James A. FitzPatrick plant are all nearby) and the promise of jobs and tax revenue have motivated local officials and residents to push for a fourth facility. Vox video producer Nate Krieger visited Oswego to speak with the mayor, tour the sites, and explore why the community is so eager for more nuclear generation.
Why Supporters Back More Nuclear
Reliable, Low-Carbon Power: A typical U.S. nuclear plant can generate enough electricity to serve roughly 1.4 million homes, operating around the clock and producing virtually no carbon emissions during operation. That reliability is appealing for a grid facing higher peak and baseline loads from data centers and AI infrastructure.
Economic Benefits: Nuclear plants create hundreds of well-paid construction and long-term operations jobs, increase local tax revenues, and can anchor regional economic planning.
Why Many People Are Wary
Safety Concerns: High-profile disasters — Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Daiichi — remain powerful symbols that shape public opinion and community risk tolerance.
Waste Management: U.S. reactors currently store spent fuel on-site in dry casks, a safe interim approach but not a permanent disposal solution. Long-term storage and repository policy remain unresolved political and technical issues.
Cost and Timelines: New nuclear projects in the U.S. have had painful histories of delays and cost overruns. The most recent major example, Plant Vogtle in Georgia, faced multi-year schedule slippages and billions in added costs — a cautionary tale for any community hoping to see near-term benefits.
What Would Happen Next
If Oswego is selected as the site for additional nuclear capacity, planning, permitting, financing and construction would likely take more than a decade. Regulators, utilities and developers must navigate environmental reviews, reactor licensing, community engagement, and massive capital commitments before electricity and jobs materialize.
At the same time, new technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced designs aim to lower up-front costs and shorten construction times — but they remain at varying stages of commercialization.
Further Reading and Resources
For more reporting on advanced reactor designs, see Umair Irfan’s work on small modular reactors. General industry and policy resources include the Nuclear Energy Institute, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Nuclear New York. World Nuclear provides international reactor profiles.
