Democratic Governors Embrace Nuclear Power for Clean Energy

Democratic governors are racing to expand nuclear power in their states, marking one of the most surprising energy policy shifts in recent memory.

From New York to Illinois to New Jersey, leaders once skeptical of nuclear energy are now betting big on it. New York Governor Kathy Hochul wants 5 gigawatts of new nuclear power by 2040. New Jersey's Governor Mikie Sherrill just signed legislation to add more than a gigawatt by 2028.

The reason for the change? States need massive amounts of new electricity, fast. Data centers are popping up everywhere, and demand is growing faster than new power plants can come online.

Nuclear power offers something wind and solar can't always deliver: constant, reliable electricity that produces zero carbon emissions. For governors trying to meet climate goals while keeping the lights on, it's becoming an attractive option.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order to expand what's already the nation's largest nuclear fleet. Nine Illinois communities have volunteered to host new plants. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is backing plans to build small modular reactors at a plant that closed just two years ago.

This spring, six New England governors signed a joint statement supporting nuclear energy. Fourteen governors mentioned nuclear power in their state of the state addresses this year, the most ever recorded.

Public opinion is shifting too. A 2025 Gallup poll found 46 percent of Democrats now favor nuclear energy, up from just 34 percent in 2016.

The Bright Side

This represents a remarkable comeback for an industry that seemed destined for decline. Just a few years ago, nuclear plants were closing early because they couldn't compete with cheap natural gas and wind power. Cost overruns and scandals dominated headlines.

Now the tide has turned. Illinois, which twice had to bail out struggling nuclear plants, is actively seeking to build more. The technology that was once politically toxic has become a bipartisan solution.

The shift shows how quickly energy policy can evolve when circumstances change. States that were phasing out nuclear power are now racing to expand it, proving that practical needs can overcome old fears.

Nuclear energy is getting a second chance to prove it can power a cleaner, more reliable grid for generations to come.