New York City is on the edge of an energy disaster. The Indian Point nuclear plant—which had supplied roughly a quarter of the city’s electricity—is struggling to get back online in the face of environmentalist opposition. Meanwhile, New York City’s electricity bills are reaching record highs and are expected to rise even more next year.
Enter Zohran Mamdani, the Democrats’ socialist nominee for mayor. If Mamdani’s vision for the future wins out, the Big Apple’s energy crisis could turn into a catastrophe. Here’s how.
Mamdani entered the scene at a time when New York’s energy troubles were turning dire. In 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which called for New York to run on 70 percent zero-emission energy by 2030 and 100 percent zero-emission energy by 2040. His successor, Kathy Hochul, continued Cuomo’s wild green crusade with new spending on renewable projects and other schemes.
But it didn’t take long for Governor Hochul to recognize reality. The ironic result of the green activists’ fight to shut down zero-emissions nuclear facilities is that New York City is now powered almost entirely by fossil fuels. It is simply impossible to switch the largest city in the United States to carbon-free energy in such a short amount of time using renewables alone.
New York’s only hope to reduce emissions, as its leaders want, while keeping the lights on, is to build even more nuclear—and to her credit, that’s exactly what Governor Hochul proposed. Hochul announced that she wanted to restore Indian Point and “lean into nuclear power.”
“We’re going to have to do more than just rely upon wind and solar and thermal,” she said.
Unfortunately, the Democratic Party’s new radical left rising star has different plans. Where Governor Hochul recognized the only way to keep emissions down and lights on is by using nuclear power, mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani – who has a sizable lead in the polls – has stayed eerily silent on the Indian Point plant that would power the city he intends to run. In fact, he’s said almost nothing about nuclear at all.
The little we do know about Mamdani’s approach to nuclear power is that he campaigned last year with NY Renews, which supports a renewables-only path to zero emissions and condemns nuclear facilities.
Whether Mamdani is ambivalent toward nuclear or opposes it like his campaign comrades doesn’t matter. New York City needs nuclear now more than ever to keep energy flowing and costs down.
Refusing to endorse necessary nuclear is bad enough, but Mamdani also appears to share NY Renews’ support for total reliance on renewables and a rejection of fossil fuels. He was the sponsor of the Clean Futures Act that would ban all new fracking gas-powered plants across the state, and has said that investing money in fossil fuel facilities is akin to “climate denialism” and “climate racism.”
Besides the fact that natural gas is very often a cleaner alternative to current sources of energy, Mamdani’s stance is impractical. If he rejects all fossil fuels, refrains from endorsing nuclear, and will only publicly support renewables, he is in effect saying that he doesn’t want New York City to have enough power to function.
Such a terrifying future is even more likely in light of Mamdani’s most radical energy plan: socializing the energy sector.
Socialism is synonymous with shortages and blackouts. State control over the energy system won’t solve New York City’s energy crisis, bring down prices, or keep the lights on. Only producing more energy can do that.
If New York fails to choose a future of pro-nuclear energy abundance, it will continue to remain a national outlier. While other left-wing states like California have decided to embrace nuclear power and retain gas power, New York is enduring an energy crisis of its own making. New York residential electricity rates are already more than 50 percent higher than the national average and set to rise.
Even so, ideologues like Mamdani refuse to accept reality and embrace the diversity of energy sources that New York City and the entire Empire State need.
Mamdani didn’t create the New York energy crisis, but his policies will worsen it. If he’s elected, America’s biggest city may not just have to contend with Mamdani opening government-run grocery stores, making bus trips free, or freezing rent. They may also have to worry about him keeping the power running so they don’t freeze this winter.
Alina Voss is a fellow with ConservAmerica.
He is the enemy of America, the city and New Yorkers, anyone voting for him is signing his own death sentence.
How in the world can anyone living in the shadow of 9/11 possibly vote for this guy?
Are New Yorkers that dense?
The sleaze is pouring off him like slimy body oil. Professional liar who will do disastrous things the minute he is sworn in. HIs allegiances are the worst, his beliefs even more so. He’s an anti-semite, anti-Israel guy who sides with the terrorists and refuses to denounce them. He has zero practical experience in running anything, let alone the great NYC. He’s grown up a pampered son of Communist parents who are wealthy and entitled. Our once great city will be a shambles, with few tourists, and many leaving, most for good. NYC will e left aa welfare city run by a Communist. He is our enemy and the stupid gimme crowd of NYC voters have taken his bait, voting for his phony smile and absurd promises.
Mamdani proudly associates himself with the Imam behind the 1993 first World Trade Center Bombing that inspired the perpetrators of 9/11 in 2001. Any New Yorker voting for Mamdani puts his stamp of approval on Osama Bin Laden’s heinous crime and needs to have their head examined and should be removed from the voter list for mental incompetence.
A combination of a communist and Hamas supporter–what could go wrong? The panoply of gays, trans, etc. support a man whose backers in the Middle East would kill them if they ever went there! How stupid can some people be?
Is that not his goal? Wreck the economy, trash our country as fast as possible.
NY will get what they deserve. Let them suffer the consequences of their decisions.
And there are voters for him?????? Insane!!!!!
Mamdani is going to destroy NYC. Like the communists have destroyed Portland Seattle, LA, SF, Chicago and many other capital and big cities. They fight Trump at every turn because he is working on keeping the lights on. Wind and solar will never be as efficient as Nuclear power. Even environmentally. The cost of making the solar panels and windmills are cost prohibitive and environmentally a disaster. The carbon footprint they leave behind and the space they take up plus the damage to wildlife is so much greater than a nuclear plant. But the progressives never mention that. Many of the people I know on the left have never heard windmills killing birds. Or people living close to a park full with windmills are bothered by a low tone hum that is out there day and night. Plus the lights flickering because of the planes flying overhead. Here in America especially in the West we still have room to put them away from populated areas. Only on the east coast this is not possible. Plus the cost of installing maintenance, replacements makes it impossible as an alternative. People in Europe all put solar on their roofs and are now having power surges that destroy their electronics and electrical appliances. Any overage they can’t return to the power grid. Like always with these progressives who want to save the world. They make plans in their head but don’t think it through . Biden tried it. Everyone buy E vehicles and electric appliances. From cars to weed whackers to hairdryers and pencil sharpeners. Only there isn’t, wasn’t enough electricity to power all of that. Ever thought to use people power with some of these tools. No. Of course not. If the people would operate half of the appliances they have by people power maybe we could all keep the lights on. But the people don’t want to whip their own whipped cream. Hell they dont even want to cook from scratch. Which is a subject for another time. We have become lazy. I still see my grandpa cut the gras under a hedge with scissors. I don’t think in today’s society there is one kid you could get to do that. Unless you paid him a lot of money. And maybe not even then. Mamdani is running on that mindset. You mention environment and people panic. I remember when the first Sputnik went up by the Russians, people were scared we would be attacked frim space any day now. I never believed in that. We had survived a war we were going to survive the Sputnik. And here we are more than 65 years later. The earth is still turning the sun comes up and goes down like always. It’s the people in charge who want to talk us into Armageddon. Don’t believe them.
If Mamdani wins, NYC will turns into a candlelight zone. There will be no electric or gas at all which mean no heat.
NYC future; Escape from NY when Feds seize whole city
NY has great choices – go with Andrew Cuomo who initiated the stupidity or go with Mamdani who will finish it off. Anyway you look at it, NY is in a lose lose situation.
Politician stop bringing Muslim in the United States, they come in friendly
they want to destroy us, look at Minnesota Ilhan Omar ,Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Prellley of Mass.also Ocasión-Cortez all elected by Muslims in the United States
What a scream. Mamdani will crush New Yorkers. Every City-run day care will have an Imam. Every city-run grocery store will require a ‘city-issued’ ID (think of an Imam issued card), and energy rebates will be used to reward Mamdani supporters. Guess which groups will NOT be welcomed in any sort of city-operated business? Or, even operating a business. The energy issue will flatline so many businesses and, broadly, the economic vitality of NYC. Any business or individual that can exit NYC in the next few months should reflect upon that option. (My father was an immigrant, lived and worked in NYC. I was born in NYC. My family moved away as did my grandparents. NYC is no longer an economic beacon, but a city holding onto faded glory that offers delusions of past importance.)
There is no COULD lead to disaster. He will be a disaster for everything in New York. Unfortunately, the people there will need to suffer through their ignorance.
Even if you could make non-fossil fuel energy enough for NYC, as well as the data centers on which NYC will depend, this will still have no significant impact on “saving the planet” from “greenhouse gasses”. The rest of the world shares the same atmosphere and we can’t control the amount of air pollution they cause! Especially China, where coal fired generators are going in all over the country.
This is just one more example of how left wing or “progressive” thinking generates more stupidity than clean energy.
Republican politicians! Start getting your shat together right now to make sure New York City does not get one thin dime of my or your tax dollars. For anything. Not for anything. Not for education, it’s not helping, safety or public aid.
Just more proof He’s an IDIOT!!
This Buffon will be elected not by the people who vote for him but by the people who DON’T vote at all.
when you elect incompetence… expect the worst.
I don’t live in New York, and historically, New Yorkers are stupid when it comes to elections. I hope the decision they make doesn’t ultimately affect us all. As long as it doesn’t, they will go where they will.
Good New York. Enjoy your liberal leaders leading you down the toilet. You voted for it, so don’t ask those of us with a brain to bail you out.
Why would anyone with a brain vote for this Moron.
NYC voters…WAKE UP SOON!
I knew Mamdani was a lunatic but this article reminded me that Cuomo is crazy too. I support Sliwa because a win for either of the other two is unsupportable! I speak from experience because I voted for Obama the first time and regretted it ever since!
Libs have no one with any direct experience or working knowledge of anything related to energy or actual heavy industry. Going to renewables only is a pipe dream.
NY’ers get what they vote for. Trump will cut them off and they will suffer. Some people are just too stupid to learn. They hear the work free and turn their minds off.
People vote. The people in NY will vote for him. The problem the rest of us have is that we will be expected to save the city/state with our money. Happens all the time whether it is a state ,city or large corporations. People forget or are not interested. Politics upsets them.
Good luck New York. This guy is worse than Brandon Johnson / Chicago. Did the citizens of New York forget about 911? Don’t fall for that smile because history proves communism doesn’t work. This guy will be your worst nightmare come true.
NYC and the entire state DESERVE WHAT THEY HAVE VOTED FOR…..they will be pleading to dc to bail their lame ass out….
Mamdani may be a blessing to everyone outside of NYC. Once NYC becomes communist city #1 and is the disaster we all believe it will be should he take control, this could be a wake up call to all the other states and we may a herd of leftist who are ignorant of leftist outcomes changing their tune! Want to bury the left? Show the people what their policies really do!
Democrats don’t give a damn about America or common sense,, and they have NO IDEA what Socialism or Communism really is or the EVILS it brings upon the people living under it’s deadly grip. Demorat politicians have learned that all the have to do is scream “VOTE FOR ME AND YOU’LL GET ENDLESS FREE-BEES”, and society[s parasites fall in line like a herd of DUMBA$$ SHEEP when a a well trained sheep-herding dog is nipping at their legs. And Mamdamni is a rich, lying, deceptive liar who will bankrupt NYC, turn it into a crime-infested cess pool, drive out thousands of businesses, industries, and other high rollers.
WISE UP NYC VOTERS WHILE YOU STILL HAVE THE CHANCE. MISERY OR PROSPARITY – YOUR CHOICE.
If the folks in NYC want to elect a Communist so be it. Sometime the best teacher is a strong dose of reality.
I suppose middle and High Schools don’t teach world/government history anymore. Or, just forgotten how Communism/Socialism really doesn’t work. It works for the upper echelon of government. Yes, China is a communist country, and that country is doing well economically. However, the Chinese government has implemented economic reforms since 1970, with the help of President Nixon. This opened the doors to outside private enterprises with a tight grip. Most people don’t remember that. Yet, the Chinese socioeconomic and political system actually corresponds to the definition of communism. How? There is no private property or individual initiative to decide what to consume or to resolve these questions of production and distribution. In short, government control. This means access to consumer products, if you can figure that out, is determined by the needs of each individual, so there are no differences in the standard of living. For example, Mandani wants the energy plan to be controlled by his government if he gets elected. Energy and perhaps other entities will determine the necessity of each individual. Based on what you say? $$$ and how productive you are. Just saying.
What needs to happen is let them vote him in and when they are hurting our government needs to not step in let them sink or swim they deserve what they get when they are hurting have nothing they will run that jerk out of the city, then lets see what the other Dems in Washington that think communist is the way to go when they all get voted out of office, our country will be better off without them.
Jihad is rolling ahead. An energy disaster is the least of Mamdani’s intent. That NYC is even considering a Muslim, let alone a communist Muslim as Mayor is beyond frightening. Do the New Yorkers remember 9/11?
Jihad is rolling ahead and Mamdani is a front line soldier. Pushing NYC into an energy disaster is the least of his intent. If the world doesn’t wake up soon the apocalypse Islam is working towards will be upon us. NYC putting a Muslim in the Mayoral seat???
Like Waylon Jennings said…..”turn out the lights ..the partys’s over……………….
Whomever bought this position for Mandami will not allow him to do anything too destructive before the midterms. The public will be fooled into voting in more like him when they don’t see an immediate disaster in NYC.
Anyone who votes for mamdani needs to have their head examined. Good grief, the guy is trying to implement old communist policies that the USSR was throwing in the trash back in 1999. This guy is blowing smoke up your collective tu-tus, New York City. Better do your research. Ignorance of history is no excuse for making this kind of mistake. You will pay for it, and you will regret it. He thinks he’s going to tax and take from the rich…LOL The rich aren’t that stupid. They’re all leaving your city. Guess who will be covering all of his failed policies? YOU!
Vote for this Animal if you embrace the Communist Lifestyle.
ZERO FREEDOM,ZERO RIGHTS,ZERO CHOICES. LOOK AT HISTORY!
COMMUNISM DOESN’T WORK!
NEW YORK STATE VOTERS WAKE UP!!!!
He shouldn’t be here due the fact he is a Socialist!!
Most people look at the movies Escape from NY and Escape from LA as entertainment. I now see a lot of folks are changing their thinking. Those movies are actually prophesy.
All I ask for of those running away from the spread of communism (AKA total insanity) in blue cities is do not change where you move to into the septic tank you came from.
He blows enough hot air to power a steam turbine all by himself every time he opens his mouth.
Let them have him. Dems insist on destroying everything good and practical in America, so let NY city, or the entire west coast for that matter, go down with them. They get what they vote for. Either stand up, or get ran over.
The people of NYC love him so I hope he gets elected. It will be fun to watch.
NY People….wake up before you’ll regret!!
All power to them. The voters will get what they voted for. Carriages would look good in the streets of NYC.
Laws should be in place and enforced people from other Countries cannot run for not hold any Political Office. Mamdani is an enemy to the USA, American Legalized Citizens, Christians and Jews, Capitalism, personal ownership! There comes a point in life where Extremism against all that GOD, JESUS CHRIST, put in motion for the only way Mankind should live must be put down and fully eradicated. The Radical Left is the South of what was wrong in the USA during the hard fought Civil War. They can’t be reasoned with. They believe in their Agenda to the point of violence and are the first to pull the trigger! Should Mandani get into Office it’ll be a matter of time before intervention will be required to remove these pockets of Cancer from America!
SLIWA for Mayor. The only true New Yorker who cares about the people!!