New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 19 announced a landmark agreement between the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG). Hochul was joined at an event announcing the agreement by Ontario Premier Doug Ford and NYPA President and CEO Justin Driscoll.
The signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishes a framework for collaboration on the development of advanced nuclear energy technologies, including large-scale nuclear and small modular reactors (SMRs), to strengthen energy reliability, affordability, and decarbonization efforts in New York and Ontario.
Under the MOU, NYPA and OPG will share information and leverage their respective expertise and resources to advance technological innovation, enhance understanding of nuclear financing and economics, and support workforce development initiatives needed to enable the development of advanced nuclear facilities in New York and Ontario.
They will also explore opportunities to enhance electricity trade between Ontario and New York to improve reliability and reduce emissions.
Areas of Collaboration under the MOU include:
• Technology and Expertise Sharing: Continued mutual collaboration in the development and deployment of advanced nuclear technology for energy generation, including site and technology selection, project development, project management, plant operations, nuclear waste management, licensing, permitting, financing, and supply chain opportunities for New York and Ontario companies to supply parts and services for new nuclear builds.
• Workforce Development: Initiatives to strengthen the nuclear workforce, including collaboration with labor unions to identify skill gaps, specialized training programs, and joint projects to expand opportunities and ensure job quality in high demand careers in New York and Ontario.
• Cross-Border Ventures: Exploration of opportunities and models for mutually advantageous business ventures to enhance electricity trade and support the deployment of advanced nuclear resources and technologies to reliably and affordably meet the growing electricity needs in each jurisdiction.
Starting next year, leaders from the Power Authority and OPG will form a working group to oversee the implementation of the MOU.
“New York and Ontario have a proud tradition of trade, cooperation and a bond that cannot be broken,” Hochul said. “This first-of-its-kind agreement represents a bold step forward in our relationship and New York’s pursuit of a clean energy future. By partnering with Ontario Power Generation and its extensive nuclear experience, New York is positioning itself at the forefront of advanced nuclear technology deployment, ensuring we have safe, reliable, affordable, and carbon-free energy that will help power the jobs of tomorrow.”
Ford said, “From building the first small modular reactors in the G7 to building the first large-scale nuclear facilities in decades, Ontario is proud to lead the world in nuclear innovation. By working together with New York, we’re creating good-paying jobs, growing our economies and delivering clean, affordable power for families and businesses on both sides of the border for generations to come.”
Driscoll said, “The Power Authority is proud to partner with OPG to explore opportunities to deliver advanced nuclear energy and its economic benefits to more New Yorkers. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, this new partnership will enable faster development of advanced nuclear technology and ensure that the state’s energy future is more resilient, more sustainable, and creates high-quality jobs for New Yorkers.”
Ontario Power Generation President and CEO Nicolle Butcher said, “As we construct the G7’s first grid-scale SMR and continue engagement on the potential for new large-scale generation at our Wesleyville site in Port Hope, we look forward to building on our long-standing relationship with NYPA. We and NYPA will share expertise and collaborate in ways that benefit both of our jurisdictions as we advance the development of nuclear technologies.”
NYPA and OPG have maintained a unique cross border partnership since the 1950s. On the St. Lawrence River, the two organizations jointly developed the St. Lawrence Power Project, a hydropower facility spanning the international border on the St. Lawrence River.
Anchored by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Power Project in Massena, New York and the Robert H. Saunders Generating Station in Cornwall, Ontario, this collaboration has endured for decades under the Joint Works Agreement, through which the two utilities share water resources, coordinate maintenance and safety practices, and manage common operational responsibilities.
On the Niagara River to the west, NYPA and OPG operate and produce power independently at NYPA's Niagara Power Project and OPG's Sir Adam Beck Generation Stations. Although operating separate generating stations, NYPA and OPG work daily to manage the Niagara River's water and ensure safety for residents, tourists, and the engineers and staff managing the facilities.
The ongoing cooperation between NYPA and OPG in hydropower generation ensures reliable power production and regular coordination on river flows, making the partnership a lasting model of New York-Ontario energy collaboration, Hochul’s office noted.
Hochul and Ontario Premier Doug Ford also signed a Declaration of Intent (DOI), pledging continued cooperation between the state and province.
