Potential Fourth Nuclear Plant: Oswego’s Strong Candidacy 

Written by Andrew Valentine and Gabriella Eckstein

New Plant Potential 
OSWEGO, N.Y. – A new nuclear power plant may be coming to Oswego County. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is currently evaluating possible locations for the project, and Oswego is a strong candidate.

Local officials point to the county’s long history of nuclear energy production. The proposal comes at a time when New York is spearheading clean, and renewable energy. 

With the introduction of Micron into Syracuse, a fourth nuclear plant in Oswego could be an economic savior for not just the county, but for CNY as a whole. 

Existing Stations

As it stands now, there are three nuclear facilities in Oswego County:

Nine Mile Point Unit 1 (1969), Nine Mile Point Unit 2 (1988), and James A. FitzPatrick Station (1975). 

The three stations have played a major role in the county’s economy for decades, becoming some of the region’s largest employers and taxpayers. 

“These plants employ 1,400 people directly and support over 14,000 jobs in the region. They pay $48 million in taxes to the town, county, and school districts.” Said Phillip Church, Oswego County Administrator and Budget officer. 

Constellation Energy is the primary owner of the three units, and information about the energy generation from Nine Mile Point Units and James A. FitzPatrick are publicly available online. 

Throughout 2025, the three facilities generated enough electricity to power around 1,825,000 homes. 

Why Oswego? 

There are several other counties in New York who are also candidates for this project. Broom, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, and Schuyler county just to name a few. But Oswego maintains its strong candidacy for two distinct reasons: Its proximity to a great lake and existing infrastructure.

Nuclear power plants require a ton of water, acting as a coolant for the extreme heat generation. And every Oswego County resident knows, there’s no shortage of that. 

“Nine Mile Point does already. Said Phillip Church in regards to whether the Oswego County site meets federal criteria. “Ample water, rail, safety, transmission lines, and robust highway network are all important, all of which we have here.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, pushes for renewable energy. With the construction of Micron in Syracuse, it would aid in powering the factory as well as providing even more energy to citizens. 

Economic Impacts

We reached out to Mayor Corradino, and while he said he couldn’t speak on the county as a whole, he was eager to give his outlook about the positive impact of a new plant in Oswego.

“Nuclear facilities bring high‑skilled, high‑wage jobs, both during construction and throughout long-term operations. That type of employment base strengthens household stability, supports local businesses, and helps retain young professionals who might otherwise leave the region.” He said. 

Beyond the direct employment opportunities, Oswego county officials believe the economic impacts would greatly serve the county.

Construction alone would create thousands of jobs across multiple trades, including engineering, transportation, electrical work, manufacturing, etc.. Permanent positions would be created and would provide for decades. 

“This positive impact would last for decades, the life of the plant. The availability of additional locally produced power also can attract new industries to the area, multiplying the economic impact.” Phillip Church says. 

Constellation Energy also contributes a significant amount in taxes each year, roughly $45 million. Those payments help support essential public services. 

“The other benefit is property tax revenue.” Said SUNY Oswego Economics Professor Elizabeth Schmitt. ”Any new power plant will have a PILOT agreement, but will still add to these payments. This reduces the tax burden on homeowners while finding additional resources for the local schools.” 

Revenue generated from a new power plant could also help fund infrastructure improvements in roads, bridges, sewer systems, water lines. 

Negatives – Safety Concerns 

Of course, with all the positives, there are many concerns, and rightfully so. 

Nuclear waste is incredibly difficult to dispose of. The uranium rods are radioactive for thousands of years, and the only way to safely rid of them is to bury them underground. 

“While NY plants have a strong safety record, there are always concerns about the accidence and the release of radioactive waste.” Professor Schmitt said.

“Nuclear power plants use enormous amounts of water as a coolant and increase the temperatures of local water bodies, which can harm local ecosystems. However, modern design uses cooling towers to minimize temperature impacts.” She added.

Professor Schmitt introduces an interesting point: While the increased jobs are great for economic growth, the influx of construction could cause issues for those already living in Oswego.

“Housing here is already tight…this will make it worse.” Said Professor Schmitt, “Local hotels will be constantly full because of construction/tradeworkers commuting … .College students will compete for rentals.”

No matter the outcome, Oswego officials are adamant they will protect the local ecosystems.

“Our community sits on the shores of Lake Ontario and protecting that resource is non-negotiable.” Mayor Corradino adds. “Key considerations include water usage and discharge, long-term waste management, emergency preparedness, and the facility’s overall environmental footprint.” 

Security and Protocols

Constellation Energy displays their safety information publicly on their website. 

All nuclear energy facilities in the United States are required to regularly test detailed emergency response plans to ensure public safety.

State and local authorities also develop detailed procedures for residents within a 10-mile emergency planning zone, including evacuation strategies in the unlikely event of an incident. 

Constellation Energy plants are built with safeguards which are designed to handle extreme environmental events. Each major safety system also has at least one backup to ensure the facility will operate even if something fails. 

Employment Safety 

Before hiring, Constellation screens employees through background checks to ensure safety and reliability. Once hired, workers go through extensive training that combines classroom learning and simulators.

Even after they are fully licensed, they continue regular refresher training to keep their skills sharp and up to date throughout their careers. 

Looking Forward

The New York power Authority will evaluate these counties based on two criteria, infrastructure, and community approval. 

There are currently several other communities across New York State who have applied for this project. 

NYPA plans to select a location for this new plant by the end of 2026, and their press releases are available online.