By Gary Toth, Mexico, NY
Former Chairman of the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency and Retired Senior Council Representative, United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local #277
As a lifelong resident of Oswego County, like many people living in our neighboring communities, energy infrastructure has always been part of the backdrop of daily life. Nuclear power has been operating in and around our region for decades, supplying safe, clean, reliable electricity and supporting generations of skilled workers and their families. It has been done safely, year after year.
That long history matters. During my time as chairman of the Oswego County Industrial Development Agency, I saw firsthand how closely reliable power is tied to economic growth and stability. Businesses depend on it to invest and expand in our region. Workers depend on it for good-paying jobs. Families depend on it to keep costs predictable and the lights on year-round.
Nuclear power has earned our community’s trust over time. Plants in our community and across the country operate under strict federal oversight and are operated and maintained by highly trained professionals who live in the same communities they serve. Their families drink the same water, breathe the same air, enjoy their areas beauty and rely on the same local institutions as everyone else.
Nuclear energy has delivered safe, steady, carbon-free electricity for decades while supporting a strong local workforce and contributing to the region’s economic resilience. That long record is important as New York continues to modernize its energy system and plan for rising energy demand. Meeting that demand will require sources of base load power that operate dependably around the clock. As renewable energy continues to grow, the grid still requires energy sources that provide reliability for every season and in all conditions. Nuclear power has consistently filled that role, helping keep the system balanced and energy costs more predictable.
Over time, engineers and operators have refined reactor designs to add layers of protection and simplify how systems respond in unusual situations. Newer reactors are designed to respond to unexpected conditions by slowing down and stabilizing on their own. These evolving technologies reflect decades of learning and a continued focus on safety, efficiency and reliability.
The focus on steady improvement is familiar in every major industry. Equipment is becoming more reliable. Systems become more resilient. Safety margins are growing. Nuclear power has followed that same path, guided by operational knowledge, rigorous oversight, and the experience of experts in the field.
For communities like Oswego County, this conversation is grounded in a lived experience. Nuclear power has been part of our region’s story for generations, contributing to safety, economic strength, and dependable energy for New York State. Thoughtful investment in nuclear’s next chapter can carry that record forward with the same seriousness and care that have defined its past.