On the banks of the Hudson River in Buchanan, New York, the Indian Point Energy Center once stood as one of the most important pieces of the state’s power grid. For decades, the facility consistently generated reliable electricity for millions of homes while supporting good-paying union jobs and providing critical tax revenue for local schools and municipalities in the Hudson Valley.
Today, the reactors are silent.
Their closure removed one of the region’s largest sources of reliable baseload power, without a comparable replacement ready to take its place. The consequences are now being felt by families and small businesses across New York every time they open their utility bills.
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Nowhere is the affordability crisis more acute than in New York. The problem did not emerge overnight; years of irresponsible policy decisions slashed domestic energy supply while demand continued to grow.
Those policies are making it harder and harder to keep power affordable and reliable. The solution is not choosing one energy source over another. It’s about taking an “all of the above” approach that expands supply and builds the infrastructure needed to deliver it.
Since the closure of Indian Point, New York has experienced a worst-in-the-nation 58% increase in electricity costs. For working families, seniors on a fixed income, and small businesses across the Hudson Valley, those rising costs are crushing their ability to live and thrive in New York.
Other states are recognizing the consequences of losing reliable energy sources and are taking steps to reverse course.
In Michigan, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) is moving forward with reopening the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant after acknowledging the economic and energy consequences of its closure. Once operational again, Palisades will produce more than a gigawatt of electricity, enough to power roughly 800,000 homes.
If Michigan can bring a nuclear plant back online to strengthen its grid and lower costs for residents, New York can, too.
Upstate New York produces roughly 90% of its electricity from zero-emission sources such as hydropower, nuclear, wind, and solar. At the same time, natural gas plants continue to provide more than half of the state’s generating capacity, helping maintain reliability when renewable output fluctuates.
This is why an “all of the above” energy strategy is essential. A diverse energy portfolio reduces risk and ensures electricity is available when demand is highest, whether during the coldest days of winter or the hottest days of summer. New York already benefits from a varied energy mix.
Hydropower, natural gas, wind, solar, and emerging technologies all play a role in a balanced energy portfolio. Rather than picking winners and losers, policymakers should encourage investment across the energy sector and allow markets and innovation to determine where different technologies work best.
Congress has begun taking steps in this direction. Legislative proposals such as the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act and the Fighting for Reliable Energy and Ending Doubt for Open Markets Act aim to streamline permitting timelines and provide the regulatory certainty needed to accelerate new energy development. Reforms such as these can help ensure that reliable and affordable energy projects come online faster.
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We also need to build the infrastructure necessary to deliver power where it is needed. That means fixing America’s broken permitting process so energy projects, from power plants to transmission lines, can move forward in a timely and predictable way. Without permitting reform, even the best energy policies will struggle to translate into real-world supply.
New York has the resources, workforce, and innovation to lead on energy, but only if we pursue a balanced approach. An “all of the above” strategy will reduce costs, strengthen reliability, and secure a more stable energy future for families across the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Heather Reams serves as the president and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions and CRES Forum, leading nonprofit organizations based in Washington, D.C. Congressman Mike Lawler represents New York’s 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and includes all or parts of Westchester, Dutchess, Putnam, and Rockland counties. He has been named CRESponsible Leader of the Month for March 2026.