New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that she has directed the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop and construct a zero-emission advanced nuclear power plant in Upstate New York, with capacity to produce at least one gigawatt of electricity.

According to a statement released by the Governor’s office, the new initiative will contribute to the goal “to achieve a clean energy economy.” New York State has set targets to achieve a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century.

The initiative follows plans announced by Hochul in January’s 2025 State of the State presentation to explore the acceleration of advanced nuclear energy technologies, with the Governor at the time noting in particular a need to address the growing energy usage and associated emissions impact of computing needed to power AI.

In the new statement, the Governor reiterated the need for “new, clean electricity resources to meet growing power demand from new industrial development, building electrification and electric vehicles.”

To date, Hochul has focused primarily on renewables, including announcing in 2023 awards for 6.4 GW of renewable energy projects, including 3 major offshore wind and 22 land-based projects, marking the largest-ever U.S. state investment in renewable energy at the time. The Governor’s office said that the new nuclear development will complement its renewable energy deployment, “by adding zero-emission baseload power, providing reliable and affordable clean energy to advance the State’s goal to achieve a clean energy economy.”

Under the new order, NYPA, in coordination with the Department of Public Service (DPS), will seek to develop at least one new nuclear energy facility, with NYPA directed to begin evaluating technologies, business models and locations for the plant, and to secure key partnerships.

Hochul said:

“As New York State electrifies its economy, deactivates aging fossil fuel power generation and continues to attract large manufacturers that create good-paying jobs, we must embrace an energy policy of abundance that centers on energy independence and supply chain security to ensure New York controls its energy future.”