Comment
To the Members of the New York State Department of Public Service:On behalf of UA Local #81 Plumbers & Steamfitters, I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Advanced Nuclear Policy Options Paper and support the policy framework needed to advance New York's Nuclear Reliability Backbone.As a business leader in Oswego County, I have seen firsthand what a reliable, low-cost electric grid means for our local economy. Nine Mile Point and the James A. FitzPatrick plant have supplied dependable, zero-emission power to our region for decades, and that reliability has helped attract and retain the employers our community depends on.Oswego County is entering a period of real economic opportunity, and a durable nuclear policy is central to it. New advanced nuclear development can create thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of long-term careers, while opening new opportunities for local businesses to supply materials, equipment, and services throughout the build. Our existing nuclear fleet already generates substantial tax revenue for our county, towns, and school districts revenue that keeps local taxes stable and supports the services our community relies on. A new facility would extend those benefits for decades.Reliable power is also what allows businesses like mine to plan with confidence. As electricity demand grows across the state, expanding our region's nuclear capacity is the clearest path to the kind of stable, affordable power that lets local employers invest, hire, and grow.For these reasons, I respectfully urge the Department of Public Service and the Public Service Commission to move the Nuclear Reliability Backbone forward, and to recognize Oswego County's experience, infrastructure, and workforce as the state selects sites for new advanced nuclear development.Respectfully,Tim RiceBusiness AgentUA Local #81 Plumbers & Steamfitters