NYPA Allocates $10 Million to Build Nuclear Workforce in New York

New York Power Authority (NYPA) has distributed $10 million to six programs across the state to prepare workers for careers in the nuclear energy sector. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the funding allocation on September 29, noting that the awards were approved by the NYPA Board of Trustees. The money is designed to provide hands-on technical training and career pathways as New York seeks to expand its reliable, emissions-free nuclear capacity to more than 8 gigawatts.

Stony Brook University received $945,000 of the total funding. This portion will support three specific training tracks: nuclear-aligned welding, HVAC/R certification, and radiation work. The university will partner with Suffolk County Community College and Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) to implement these programs. The initiative includes four fully paid summer internships at BNL, where students will shadow professionals in the Radiological Control Division.

The radiation practicum is overseen by the SBU Post-Irradiation Examination And Research Lab (PEARL). Led by College of Engineering and Applied Sciences faculty Lance Snead and David Sprouster, along with Michelle Kehoe from Radiation Safety, Environmental Health and Safety, the lab will train 36 students in radiation safety, instrumentation, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Half of these participants are Stony Brook students. Four students will be selected for the paid internships at BNL, gaining fieldwork experience to prepare for careers as radiological control technicians.

Mónica Bugallo, Stony Brook’s interim vice president for research and innovation, stated that the program combines faculty expertise with workforce development. She emphasized that the training facility provides immersive, hands-on learning. Bugallo noted that this partnership allows Stony Brook to offer practical training in energy research while preparing the workforce needed for the state’s clean energy goals.

Ed Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College, described the partnership as a commitment to creating career pathways. He explained that specialized training in HVAC and welding prepares students with the technical skills and credentials required to support the growing nuclear industry. The collaboration reflects a shared goal of meeting the evolving workforce needs of the region and the state.

The funding is part of a larger effort by NYPA to develop at least 1 gigawatt of advanced nuclear energy in Upstate New York. This goal was set by Governor Hochul in June 2025. Over the past year, NYPA has committed $40 million to build the advanced nuclear workforce, from which these specific awards are drawn. The authority has also issued solicitations, expanded its leadership team, and strengthened strategic partnerships to support this growth.

Derek O’Connor, a senior manager for workforce development at Stony Brook, highlighted the geographic advantage of Long Island. He noted that an R1 university, a trade-focused community college, and a national laboratory are all located within a 30-mile radius. This concentration of expertise is critical for creating workforce programming that achieves New York’s energy goals. Aleida Perez, manager of Workforce Development and Science Education at BNL, said the internships allow students to apply classroom learning in a working national laboratory environment.

Other recipients of the $10 million include the Workforce Development Institute & New York State Building & Construction Trades Council, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Jamestown Community College, SUNY Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center, and the Manufacturers Talent Institute. The awards support Governor Hochul’s NextGen Nuclear New York program, which aims to develop a skilled, in-state nuclear workforce through coordinated education and training pathways.