Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning) is voicing his disappointment after lawmakers on the Assembly Energy Committee voted against his proposal (A.10027), which would have created the New York Nuclear Energy Office, as well as establishing a nuclear energy development fund to assist with nuclear energy production in the state. Palmesano says this would encourage private stakeholders to develop clean nuclear energy projects in New York and help ratepayers secure more affordable and reliable energy options.

In procedural terms in the state Legislature, when a bill is “held” in committee, that amounts to the legislation being blocked from advancing for a full vote of the Assembly.

“It is clear that New York’s energy grid is becoming more and more unreliable since the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), the Green New Deal for New York. An unreliable grid will cause roaming blackouts and even put lives at risk if New Yorkers can’t access electricity during an emergency, such as a snowstorm. One way to help with this is by producing more nuclear energy. Unlike wind and solar, it is dispatchable and reliable baseload generation that will support our state’s energy demands and needs. It’s clean energy, and its land-use footprint is far superior to wind and solar. If we are going to advance nuclear energy technology, and we should, it makes the most sense to establish a statewide agency instead of relying on a fragmented, agency-by-agency approach. I am disappointed Assembly lawmakers voted down this proposal. I will, however, continue to remain steadfast in my support for an energy policy in New York that prioritizes energy affordability, reliability, fuel diversity and energy choice. New York families and businesses deserve nothing less,” said Palmesano.