New York, NY — As Governor Hochul ramps up efforts to build out nuclear power across the state, a new report from Food & Water Watch warns that small modular reactors (SMRs) in particular could pose serious risks to communities, ratepayers, and the climate. The report comes just days after the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved NuScale’s latest SMR design — a move that signals a growing federal push for nuclear expansion, even as questions mount about safety, waste, and who really benefits.

The new fact sheet, “Going Nuclear in the Neighborhood,” reveals how New York could become a testbed for costly, unproven nuclear technology under Governor Hochul’s advanced nuclear agenda. Despite claims of innovation, SMRs pose familiar risks: radioactive waste with no long-term disposal solution, high costs to ratepayers, and the siting of hazardous infrastructure in vulnerable communities. In fact, a previous NuScale SMR design slated for Idaho failed to materialize thanks to cost overruns — despite receiving over $230 million in federal funding.

“New York has a long history of expensive nuclear failures — we can’t afford to make the same mistake again,” said Laura Shindell, New York State Director for Food & Water Watch. “Small modular reactors may be smaller, but the dangers are just as real. From ballooning costs to radioactive waste and corporate handouts, SMRs are a dangerous false solution pushed by Big Tech and the nuclear industry. If Governor Hochul is serious about tackling the climate crisis, she must stop chasing risky nuclear fantasies and invest in ready-to-deploy wind and solar projects that deliver more affordable energy.”

Governor Hochul’s administration aims to develop “advanced” nuclear reactors in New York, including a joint proposal with Constellation, a company that owns over 20 nuclear facilities, to explore expansion at the Nine Mile Point nuclear facility in Oswego. The fact sheet underscores how this nuclear push is tied to energy-hungry tech industries — from AI to chip manufacturing — that could leave New Yorkers footing the bill while exposing communities to contamination and long-term risks.

Big Tech’s rapid expansion in New York is driving a surge in electricity demand — and raising the stakes for communities across the state. Advocates argue that SMRs would divert resources away from renewable energy and saddle communities with long-term risks and costs, all while failing to deliver on promised climate benefits.