New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is committing $40 million in funding over the next four years to train and retrain workers for advanced nuclear energy jobs in upstate New York to meet increasing energy demands.
The funding will be administered through the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and follows her calls made this summer for at least one gigawatt of advanced nuclear power.
The NYPA also awarded a total of $4 million to universities and organizations for clean energy workforce programs centered on artificial intelligence (AI), electromechanical trades, and advanced power systems.
“New York is leading the clean energy revolution, and NYPA is powering that progress with bold investments in workforce development,” Hochul said in a statement. “By investing in the advanced nuclear workforce and expanding access to affordable, hands-on training in AI and advanced energy systems, we’re preparing New Yorkers for the high-quality, high-demand jobs of tomorrow – and ensuring every community can share in the benefits of a cleaner, more equitable energy future.”
The $40 million will be distributed annually beginning next year to qualified providers – including technical high schools, community colleges, universities, and labor unions – to build nuclear-focused coursework, apprenticeships, and retraining programs.
Separately, the $4 million package will go to State University of New York (SUNY) campuses and community partners.
SUNY leaders pointed to the talent pipeline and regional growth impacts as a result of the investment.
“SUNY campuses throughout New York State are world-class research and development institutions as well as key economic drivers that prepare the next generation of New Yorkers for the jobs of the future,” John B. King Jr., chancellor at SUNY, said.
Awards approved by the NYPA board will go to: The Healthy Home Academy in Brewster; the University at Buffalo to launch an AI fellowship with NYPA and the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science; Green Launchpad for statewide clean energy training; Genesee Valley BOCES for new and expanded electro-mechanical trades programs; Stony Brook University to stand up a Power Pathways Workforce Readiness program; and Binghamton University for new power systems courses and expanded experiential learning and paid internships.
Those investments will “develop and retrain the workforce necessary to support advanced nuclear power, providing more opportunities for New Yorkers to pursue careers in this high-demand industry,” according to a statement from NYPA President and CEO Justin Driscoll.