New York Power Authority Announces Significant Step in Effort to Deliver at Least 1 GW of Advanced Nuclear Energy in Upstate New York

­The New York Power Authority (NYPA) today announced a significant step in its effort to develop at least 1 gigawatt (GW) of zero-emission advanced nuclear power in Upstate New York, as called for by Governor Hochul last year. NYPA has qualified 10 nuclear energy developers that responded to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for potential partnership. The selection represents the latest development in a string of NYPA actions supporting the State’s plan to add 5 GW of new advanced nuclear power. The Power Authority’s at least 1-GW project is a critical early component of that goal and will directly contribute to building an 8.4-GW backbone of reliable, zero-emission nuclear energy that helps keep the lights on, and costs remain within reach for New Yorkers.

“Over the past year, NYPA has taken several steps to help ensure its success in developing at least 1 gigawatt of advanced nuclear energy in Upstate New York,” said New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll. “We’ve continued to grow our nuclear team; awarded $10 million in workforce training funding to strengthen the nuclear talent pipeline; engaged with communities across New York; and issued key solicitations to ensure our efforts are well informed, and our decisions timely. Now, in qualifying 10 major players in the nuclear industry, NYPA has strengthened its ability to directly advance the development of the first nuclear facility in New York in generations, strengthening our grid with reliable, emissions-free energy that will power our state’s economy for generations to come.”

The Power Authority’s competitive RFQ assessed potential project partners across two technology pathways: large-scale reactors (LSR) and small modular reactors (SMR). 

The developer-integrators advancing through the LSR and SMR pathways include:

• Avangrid
• Elementl Power
• NextEra Energy
• Oppenheimer Energy
• The Nuclear Company
• Turquoise Power

The developer-integrators advancing through the SMR pathway only include:

• Blue Energy
• Holtec International
• TerraPower
• X-energy

The qualified firms demonstrated the technical expertise or project‑delivery experience required to support an advanced nuclear energy generation project and provided NYPA with information on applicable nuclear technologies. Qualified developer-integrators will be invited to participate in subsequent solicitations associated with the Power Authority’s nuclear initiative as opportunities arise. 

The NYPA RFQ, issued in May, attracted 21 responses from leading nuclear industry leaders. The RFQ followed two solicitations issued in 2025, which together drew interest from more than 30 entities. Of those respondents, 23 developers expressed interest in partnering with the Power Authority, and eight communities indicated they were desirous of hosting a nuclear project. 

In the time since Governor Hochul called on the Power Authority to deliver at least 1 GW of advanced nuclear energy in Upstate New York, NYPA has also solicited information from interested host communities, invested in building a nuclear talent pipeline through major workforce‑development funding, expanded international partnerships to share expertise and strengthen project delivery, and grown its leadership team with seasoned nuclear experts to guide siting, licensing, financing, and deployment efforts.

The Power Authority’s coordinated efforts position New York to deliver the firm, zero‑emission nuclear backbone needed to strengthen grid reliability, energy independence, and achieve a clean energy economy as the state continues to electrify.

NYPA will continue to build on its momentum as it advances the next phase of its nuclear development work. The Power Authority is targeting to select a host community, technology, and development partner—which will help carry the initiative from early planning into execution—in the coming months.