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Massena, N.Y. — The prospect of nuclear energy coming to Northern New York took a serious turn this June, as state officials, local leaders, and energy experts gathered to discuss what could become a transformative power project for the region. With Massena named as a potential site, the conversation is no longer hypothetical — it’s happening now.
Governor Kathy Hochul recently urged the state to explore building a nuclear power plant capable of producing 1 gigawatt of clean energy, citing shortfalls in solar and wind output as New York falls behind its ambitious green energy goals.
Assemblyman Scott Gray Leads the Charge
On June 8, Assemblyman Scott Gray hosted a well-attended “Nuclear 101” forum at Bonnie Castle Resort in Alexandria Bay. More than 120 attendees — including regional lawmakers and local officials from Massena — turned out to hear directly from energy advocates and industry insiders.
“We’re taking our first steps into a new energy frontier,” Gray said. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.”
Among those in attendance were St. Lawrence County legislators David Forsythe, Joseph Lightfoot, and Jim Reagen, along with Massena Mayor Greg Paquin, Deputy Mayor Chad Simpson, and Town Supervisor Sue Bellor.
Nuclear Power: Clean, Reliable, and Misunderstood
Keith Shue of the non-partisan advocacy group Nuclear New York emphasized the unmatched reliability and carbon-cutting power of nuclear energy.
“Nuclear is actually one of the cleanest forms of energy,” said Shue. “People often misunderstand the waste issue — the total volume of nuclear waste in the U.S. would fill just one Walmart. That’s nothing compared to fossil fuels.”
Nuclear New York advocates for both the preservation of existing nuclear plants and the deployment of next-generation facilities across the state.
Federal Backing and Good-Paying Jobs
Michelle Miller of GAIN (Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear), a Department of Energy initiative, provided insight into how the federal government supports nuclear development. She also highlighted the economic benefits, noting average salaries in nuclear jobs hover around $33 per hour.
“These are high-paying, stable, middle-class jobs,” Miller said, pointing out that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) tightly oversees all plant permitting and operations.
Clarkson University: A North Country Power Hub
Professors Thomas Ortmeyer and Leo Jiang from Clarkson University discussed the urgent need to modernize New York’s power grid, especially as demand continues to rise.
“If we don’t upgrade soon, we’ll face serious grid reliability issues,” said Ortmeyer, a Clarkson veteran since 1979.
With the university geographically positioned between Fort Drum, Micron in Syracuse, and NYPA in Massena, Gray called Clarkson a natural anchor in what he called the emerging “semiconductor superhighway” of upstate New York.
NYPA’s Interest and Massena’s Momentum
Andrew Boulais, a Clarkson graduate and senior VP at the New York Power Authority, confirmed NYPA’s interest in the project — though no final site has been selected. Massena, Oswego, and Fort Drum have all been floated as candidates.
“We’re still early in the process,” Boulais said. “Community interest will play a big role.”
Officials from Champion and Le Ray voiced their support, saying they’d welcome the opportunity to host a nuclear project.
Skilled Trades on Standby
IBEW Local 910’s Travis Flint and other labor leaders stressed the importance of using local union labor for the buildout. “This would be a great chance for our guys to work close to home,” Flint said.
Greg Lancette, president of the Central New York Building & Construction Trades Council, echoed the commitment: “We have systems in place to ensure local trades get priority. That keeps the dollars — and jobs — right here in our communities.”
In total, 14 unions were represented at the forum.
The Watertown Post will continue to monitor developments as New York explores this historic clean energy opportunity. With the right mix of community support, federal partnership, and local labor, the North Country could soon find itself on the front lines of America’s nuclear energy revival.
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