Chautauqua County leaders are voicing their support for Gov. Kathy Hochul's plan to develop and construct an advanced nuclear plant upstate and our recommending the NRG power plant in the City of Dunkirk as a prime site, executive PJ Wendel, Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Andrew Molitor said Tuesday.

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will help identify a site and host community for the project upstate, Hochul said. The project would generate 1,600 jobs during construction and 1,200 permanent jobs.

Local leaders say that reactivating the plant would help to attract new industrial and manufacturing development and restore essential revenue streams to Dunkirk and Chautauqua County.

"The NRG facility in Dunkirk has sat unused for nearly a decade, representing both a missed opportunity and a pressing need for action," said Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel. "By repowering NRG with safe, advanced nuclear technology, we can bring this critical asset back online to serve New York’s clean energy transition, create high-paying jobs, and revitalize a community that has long waited for meaningful economic reinvestment. I applaud Governor Hochul’s vision and urge her to make Dunkirk a centerpiece of this new nuclear strategy."

The power authority and Department of Public Service seeks to develop at least one new nuclear energy facility with a capacity of at least one gigawatt of electricity to support the state's electric grid.

"I support this commonsense step toward expanding reliable and affordable clean energy through advanced nuclear power," added Borrello. "However, while this statewide initiative is promising, we must not overlook the City of Dunkirk, which has already suffered significant losses from the closure of the NRG plant, costing the community jobs and critically needed revenue. Instead of offering short-term, costly bailouts like the $13.7 million loan at a 7.5% interest rate, the Governor should make a lasting investment by designating the NRG Plant in Dunkirk as a site for one of the state’s new nuclear plants."

"The long-idled power plant in Dunkirk represents one of the most practical and impactful opportunities for New York’s nuclear energy expansion," said Molitor. "The infrastructure is already in place, the community is eager for reinvestment, and the need for reliable, zero-emission power is only growing. Repurposing this site with advanced nuclear technology would create good jobs, strengthen the local economy, and help stabilize the electric grid. It’s time to stop overlooking Dunkirk and start recognizing it as a key part of New York’s energy future."