Nestled right on the south shore of Lake Ontario in Scriba, New York, the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant isn't just another concrete dome on the horizon. It’s a survivor. Seriously. About a decade ago, people were basically writing its obituary. Energy markets were shifting, natural gas was dirt cheap, and the previous owners were ready to pull the plug for good. But today? It’s humming along, pumping out enough carbon-free electricity to power more than 800,000 homes.
The Tech Behind the Steam
FitzPatrick uses a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR). To keep it simple: it’s essentially a giant, high-tech teakettle. Unlike a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) that uses a secondary heat exchanger, a BWR boils the water right in the reactor core. That steam goes straight to the turbine. It’s an elegant design, honestly. General Electric built this one—a BWR-4 model with a Mark I containment system. If you’re a nuclear nerd, you know that the Mark I design has been through the wringer in terms of regulatory scrutiny, especially after Fukushima. But FitzPatrick has seen massive investments in hardened vents and backup cooling to make sure it’s up to modern safety codes.
It generates about 838 megawatts. That’s a lot of juice.
The plant started commercial operations back in 1975. Think about that for a second. This facility was built using slide rules and drafting tables, yet it’s still one of the most reliable pieces of infrastructure in the Northeast. It operates at a capacity factor—basically a measure of how often it's actually running at full tilt—that usually stays well above 90%. Wind and solar? They struggle to hit half of that. That’s the "baseload" advantage you always hear people talking about.
The Near-Death Experience and the Sale
You can't talk about FitzPatrick without mentioning the 2016 drama. Entergy, the owner at the time, announced they were going to shut the place down. It was a purely financial call. They couldn't compete with cheap fracked gas. The local community in Oswego County freaked out, and rightfully so. We’re talking about 600 high-paying jobs and millions in tax revenue for the local schools.
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Then New York State stepped in with the Clean Energy Standard.
This was a massive pivot. The state started offering Zero-Emission Credits (ZECs) to recognize that nuclear plants don't puff out CO2. It was controversial. Some environmental groups hated the idea of "subsidizing" old nuclear. But the state realized if FitzPatrick closed, New York’s carbon emissions would skyrocket as gas plants filled the void. Eventually, Exelon (now Constellation Energy) bought the plant for $110 million. It was a steal, but it came with the heavy lift of keeping an aging plant profitable.
Is it actually safe?
Safety is the elephant in the room. People see the cooling towers—well, FitzPatrick actually uses a once-through cooling system with lake water—and they get nervous. But here’s the reality: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) keeps this place under a microscope.
They have resident inspectors. These are guys whose entire job is to walk the floor, check the valves, and make sure the operators aren't cutting corners. FitzPatrick has historically landed in the "Column 1" category of the NRC’s Action Matrix. That’s the top tier. It means the plant is meeting all safety performance goals.
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Of course, there’s the waste.
Spent fuel rods are stored on-site. First, they go into a deep pool of water to cool off for a few years. After that, they’re moved into "dry casks"—huge concrete and steel cylinders. They’re just sitting there on a concrete pad. It’s not a perfect solution, but until the federal government figures out a permanent repository like Yucca Mountain (which is a political nightmare), those casks aren't going anywhere. They are designed to withstand plane crashes and earthquakes, so they’re incredibly robust.
What Most People Get Wrong About Oswego’s Nuclear Hub
People often confuse FitzPatrick with its neighbors. It’s part of a massive nuclear cluster. You’ve got Nine Mile Point Unit 1 and Unit 2 right next door. Together, they turn this stretch of Lake Ontario into a literal powerhouse.
One misconception is that these plants are "old and crumbling."
Wrong.
During refueling outages, which happen every two years, Constellation spends tens of millions of dollars. They replace rotors, upgrade digital control systems, and inspect every inch of the reactor vessel. It’s like a classic car that has had the engine, transmission, and suspension replaced three times over. The "age" is more about the concrete shell; the guts are often brand new.
The Economic Ripple Effect
If you live in Central New York, you know someone who works there. Or you know someone who sells trucks to the people who work there. The average salary at a place like FitzPatrick is north of $100,000. In a region that has seen its fair share of manufacturing decline, that’s a lifeline.
- It provides roughly $500 million in regional economic output.
- The tax base supports the Mexico Academy and Central School District.
- During outages, over 1,000 extra contractors flood the local hotels and restaurants.
It's a symbiotic relationship. The lake provides the cooling, and the plant provides the cash flow that keeps the local economy from cratering.
Why James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant Matters for the Future
We’re in a weird spot with the energy transition. Everyone wants 100% renewables, but the grid isn't ready. When the sun goes down and the wind stops blowing on a freezing January night in Syracuse, you need something that just works. That’s FitzPatrick.
Constellation has been pushing for license renewals. Most of these plants were originally licensed for 40 years, then got an extension to 60. Now, there’s talk of "Subsequent License Renewal" to push them to 80 years. If that happens, FitzPatrick could be producing power into the 2050s.
It’s a bridge. Maybe one day we’ll have Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) or better battery storage. But for now, this 1970s workhorse is the reason New York has any shot at meeting its climate goals.
What You Should Do Next
If you're interested in the future of energy in the Northeast, keep an eye on the NYISO (New York Independent System Operator) real-time dashboard. You can actually see the "fuel mix" in real-time. You'll notice that nuclear usually provides a massive, steady chunk of the state's zero-emission power.
For those living near the facility, stay informed by reviewing the annual NRC public meeting summaries. These meetings are the best place to see the raw data on plant performance and any "near misses" or maintenance issues that cropped up during the year. Understanding the difference between a "non-cited violation" and a serious safety issue will help you cut through the alarmist headlines you often see on social media.
Finally, if you are a student or a job seeker in the Oswego area, look into the nuclear technology programs at local community colleges. The industry is facing a "silver tsunami" of retirements, and the need for technicians, operators, and health physics experts is at an all-time high.
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FitzPatrick isn't just a relic of the Cold War. It's a functioning, high-tech asset that’s currently winning the battle against carbon emissions, one megawatt at a time.