Discover the Largest Nuclear Power Plant in New York State (And What Lives Around It)

There are over 50 nuclear power plants in the United States. In Upstate New York, there are 3 running nuclear power plants. One of the biggest nuclear power plants in the state, Indian Point Energy Center in Westchester County stopped operating in 2021. It’s currently decommissioning. With its closure, there is a new titleholder for the largest nuclear power plant in New York State.

Follow along to find out which one!

What is the Largest Nuclear Power Plant in New York State?

The largest nuclear power plant in New York State is Nine Mile Point. The Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station is located within Oswego, County. This nuclear power plant shares a 900-acre space with the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant.

There are two nuclear reactors in the plant. The first reactor was completed in 1969. It has a capacity of about 644 megawatts. Fun fact, this first unit is the oldest operating commercial nuclear reactor in the United States. The second unit, on the other hand, has been running since 1988. Its capacity is higher at 1,375 megawatts.

Currently, both Constellation Energy and Long Island Power Authority own this nuclear plant. The previous owner was the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. Annually, the nuclear plant generates between 13 to 16.5 million kWh.

Who Lives Near Nine Mile Point?

Nine Mile Point is located in Scriba, New York. The surface area of this city is 43.91 square miles. About 7% of the city’s surface area is water. This small town is home to approximately 6,559 people. The population of this small town has been declining steadily. For instance, in 2000, the population of Scriba was 7,331.

In Scriba, the median household income is $68,712 and the percentage of people in poverty is 8.7%. According to the U.S Census Bureau, 52.3% of the population is female and 20.9% are young children under the age of 18. When talking about race, the majority of the city is white alone (96.2%). The second highest race or ethnicity is two or more races at 3.3%.

Between 2017 to 2021, there were 2,994 households with 2.22 people per household. The majority of people living in Scriba don’t hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher, but 93.5% are high school graduates. 

Scriba’s history began in 1791 when John and Nicholas Roosevelt acquired 530,000 acres. The acres were split and dispersed soon after. The first European settler where Scriba is today was Henry Everts from Montgomery County. Just a few decades later, the town’s population grew to over 700. Although many people lived in the area where Scriba is today, the town wasn’t officially established until March 1812. This was before Oswego County was created. 

Animals in Oswego County, New York

Oswego County is no stranger to animals. This county is on Lake Ontario and is home to thousands of animal species, both big and small. Listed below are some animals you can find in Oswego County, home to the largest nuclear power plant in New York State.

Common Garter Snake

Common garter snakes are found throughout the state of New York. They are one of the most common snake species in the country. Common garter snakes vary in color. They are mainly black with green, yellow, red, or white stripes. The average size of a garter snake is 22 inches long. However, they can grow up to 54 inches. They aren’t very thick snakes and only weigh about 5.3 ounces.

Common garter snakes are mostly found near water. They also live in forests, fields, and gardens. These snakes move toward their prey. Common garter snakes consume fish, frogs, insects, rodents, and small birds.

Rainbow Trout

The next animal on our list is the rainbow trout. These fish are known for their beautiful scales. They are silvery or white with a red-pink stripe. These anadromous fish are native to cold-water tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. Interestingly, the size of these fish depends on where they live. For example, most rainbow trout in cold streams are 1 to 5 pounds, while those that live in deep lakes grow to about 20 pounds. Rainbow trout are found throughout Lake Ontario.

Anglers have a good chance of catching rainbow trout in New York in the following bodies of water: the West Branch Delaware River, Willowemoc Creek, Esopus Creek, and Chateaugay River.

Red-winged Blackbird

Another animal found near Nine Mile Point is the red-winged blackbird. Despite its name, this bird isn’t entirely red. Instead, this small to medium-sized passerine bird has black wings with two prominent red spots on its wings.

Only males have red patches with a yellow border. Red-winged blackbirds are native to parts of North America and much of Central America. Interestingly, this bird species is one of the most studied in the world. Some sources also speculate that red-winged blackbirds are the most abundant landbird species in North America.

Male red-winged blackbirds often fight with one another. The brighter and larger their red patch, the more likely they are to chase away birds and prey. Although aggressive and territorial, red-winged blackbirds live in small colonies.

This bird species is polygynous. Male red-winged blackbirds can defend and procreate with up to 10 females at a time. Females though are no different and can breed with more than one male leading to nests with mixed paternity.

Eastern Newt

Did you know you can also find eastern newts near Nine Mile Point in Oswego County? Another name for these beautiful newts is the red-spotted newt. They are newts that live in wet environments, more commonly found near lakes, ponds, and rivers. They are found as far north as parts of Canada and south down to Texas and Florida. Currently, there are 4 recognized eastern newt subspecies. The most common subspecies in New York is the red-spotted newt. They can grow up to 5 inches long.

Eastern newts eat once every 2 to 3 days. They mainly consume insects, snails, frog eggs, and small aquatic invertebrates. While they aren’t endangered, population decline is a sign of environmental stress and problems since eastern newts play a big role in the ecosystem.

North American Porcupine

North American porcupines are unique animals, sometimes referred to as Canadian porcupines. They are large rodents with a long history. Porcupines are great at defending themselves. They have black and brown fur with white highlights. After the American beaver, North American porcupines are the second largest rodents in North America.

They can easily grow past 2 feet long, not counting their long tails. The tail alone ranges from 5.7 to 11.8 inches. Female North American porcupines are slightly smaller. The average female porcupine weighs about 15 pounds, which is a difference from the male porcupine which weighs an average of 23.5 pounds.

Eastern Red Bat

Another animal observed in Oswego County is the eastern red bat, a small bat species. Eastern red bats have furry red bodies that vary in shade. Males have brighter red fur. Both sexes have a tiny patch of white on their shoulders. Eastern red bats are small and reach about 4.3 inches. However, they appear smaller when asleep or resting as they scrunch up their bodies. Eastern red bats also have long and skinny tails. The tails are half the size of their bodies. Eastern red bats mainly consume insects, specifically moths. They are fast and efficient fliers, reaching speeds up to 40 mph.

Where is Nine Mile Point Located on a Map?

Nine Mile Point is a well-known nuclear power plant with two nuclear reactors that are found in Scriba. Scriba can be found tucked away northeast of Oswego, New York. The size of the site is close to 900 acres.

Here is Nine Mile Point on a map:

The photo featured at the top of this post is © railway fx/Shutterstock.com