In response to New York State’s call for new nuclear development to help meet growing energy demand, Operation Oswego County, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, State Senator Christopher Ryan, Oswego County and others hosted a forum on Friday, February 6th at Cayuga Community College’s Fulton Campus focused on nuclear energy.
Last year, Governor Kathy Hochul instructed the New York Power Authority to develop at least one gigawatt of advanced nuclear energy capacity to help meet the increasing energy demands. As part of her 2026 State of the State address, Governor Hochul increased that directive to five gigawatts.
Oswego County submitted its formal interest to NYPA following the authority’s Communities RFI in December. Constellation Energy, which operates three existing nuclear plants in Oswego, also responded to a separate Developers/Vendors RFI in December. The forum addressed this significant economic development opportunity and coalesced support for new nuclear energy from community members, businesses, trades, labor and local elected officials.
The panel was moderated by Barclay and featured five keynote panelists. The panelists represented leaders in nuclear energy, labor, government and economic development. Those panelists were: Rich Barlette, Constellation Director of State Government Affairs; Greg Barlette, International Representative for the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States & Canada; Marcus Nichol, Executive Director for New Nuclear at the Nuclear Energy Institute; Phil Church, County of Oswego Administrator; and Rob Simpson, President of Centerstate CEO.
“It was a pleasure to take part in this important conversation about New York’s nuclear future. Too often, nuclear energy is sidelined by outdated perceptions, and today’s discussion helped dispel long-standing myths. I’m grateful to all the participants and organizers for convening this forum, because the truth is simple: No community is better prepared to help New York meet its growing energy demand than Oswego County. We have the talent, the track record and the infrastructure to deliver,” said Barclay.
State Senator Christopher Ryan (SD-50) said, “For decades, Oswego County has been the heart of New York’s nuclear energy industry. Constellation’s Oswego plants have quietly powered millions of homes with carbon-free energy. These aren’t just facilities, they are pillars of our community. They have supported families for generations, sustained small businesses and regional economic development and created pathways to good-paying, union jobs. This moment is about more than power generation—it’s about leadership. It’s about showing that Oswego can continue to lead the nation in clean energy innovation. With Constellation’s proven expertise, our unions’ unmatched skill, and the deep community pride that defines this region, Oswego isn’t just ready for the next era of nuclear energy, it’s built for it.”
“Constellation’s three upstate nuclear facilities deliver nearly half of the state’s emissions-free power, support 14,400 local jobs and deliver millions in local tax revenue, all of which provide a solid foundation for new nuclear projects to build upon,” said Rich Barlette, Director, State Government Affairs, Constellation. “These existing sites that have longstanding and strong community relationships would serve as ideal locations to site new nuclear projects in New York state.”
International Representative, United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States & Canada Greg Lancette said, “The Building Trades members in CNY have been critical partners in the construction, refueling, and plant upgrades since the advent of nuclear energy in New York state. Our members take great pride and stewardship in the community workplace while being employed at the site(s). Much of our workforce is community based and generational that lives within Oswego and contiguous counties and have earned wages and benefits that allow our members to work in the community that they live, play and raise their families. The trades have also been planning and implementing scaling efforts to increase the capacity of the construction requirements of the industry to continue to provide the skilled labor in the region.”
“Due to its many physical advantages and long history of local community support for nuclear generation, the Nine Mile Point site in Oswego County is the most viable location to support new advanced nuclear generation in New York State,” said Austin Wheelock, Executive Director of Operation Oswego County. “Coupled with unprecedented demand for additional clean and reliable generation to support the growth of the semiconductor industry that will drive Upstate New York’s economy, we are an eager partner to help meet New York’s future electrical power demand.”
“Oswego County has a proven history of leadership in clean energy, and this forum underscored how well positioned our region is to help shape the future of nuclear power,” said Robert Simpson, president and CEO at CenterState CEO. “This region has a critical role to play in advancing clean energy development as we look to meet increasing energy demand driven by semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. New nuclear development will create good-paying jobs and strengthen our economy and I’m grateful for the opportunity to engage with partners in this important conversation.”
“With 60 years of experience as a nuclear host community, Oswego County is ready for the addition of new nuclear facilities,” said Philip Church, County Administrator. “We already have a qualified nuclear workforce, skilled trades workers, safety infrastructure, nearby electricity demand, a supportive community, and Nine Mile Point has abundant land available for nuclear construction. The existing three facilities are good corporate neighbors that provide high-paying jobs, positively impact the local and regional economy, and contribute significantly to the tax base and local community organizations. We look forward to working with NYPA and the Governor to help the state reach it’s carbon-free emission goals through the development of new nuclear electricity generation.”
“The Nuclear Energy Institute applauds New York’s commitment to evaluating nuclear energy as a long-term solution for meeting rising electricity demand and improving energy reliability,” said Marc Nichol, executive director of new nuclear at NEI. “Meaningful community engagement is foundational to the nuclear industry, and forums like this help ensure conversations about nuclear energy are informed, transparent and grounded in local priorities, while highlighting its role in delivering reliable clean power, supporting skilled jobs and strengthening energy systems.”
