Officials explore nuclear energy opportunities for former NRG site

As efforts continue to identify a productive new future for the former NRG Generating Station in Dunkirk, local economic development officials recently traveled to New York City to learn more about the rapidly evolving nuclear energy industry and its potential application to the site.

Mark Geise, Chautauqua County Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and Chief Executive Officer of the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), and Vince DeJoy, City of Dunkirk Director of Planning and Development, attended the 2026 Nuclear Energy Policy Summit on September 22 and 23. Representatives from Genover LLC, the current owner of the former NRG property, also participated in the summit.

Hosted by the Atlantic Council's Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative, the two-day event brought together leaders from government, industry, finance, and the energy sector to discuss the future of nuclear energy and the deployment of next-generation technologies.

For Geise and DeJoy, the summit provided an opportunity to better understand emerging nuclear technologies, financing models, regulatory considerations, public-private partnerships, and other factors that could influence whether nuclear energy could play a role in the future reuse of the Dunkirk property.

"The summit gave us an opportunity to hear directly from industry leaders about where nuclear energy is headed, the technologies that are emerging, and what it takes to move a project from an idea to actual deployment," said Geise. "As we continue working with the City of Dunkirk and our partners at Genover to find the best path forward for the former NRG site, we want to understand every viable opportunity available to us. Nuclear energy is one option worth exploring, and the information and connections we gained through this summit will help inform those conversations moving forward."

"The 2026 Nuclear Symposium provided our Dunkirk/Chautauqua team, as well as Genover, with the opportunity to learn from, meet, and network with experts in the nuclear power generation space including the NRC Commissioner, and have a better understanding of the financing challenges for these nuclear projects," Dejoy said. "We also have come away with the importance of bringing the community along with us every step of the way to provide the best scientific information available on safety, but also the significant economic benefits."

The former Dunkirk Generating Station operated for more than six decades before being retired in 2016. In May 2026, NRG Energy transferred ownership of the property and associated assets to Genover, which is now leading planning, preparation, and redevelopment efforts for the site in collaboration with local officials.

Returning the former NRG property to productive use has been a longstanding economic development priority for Chautauqua County, the CCIDA, and the City of Dunkirk. The site's existing energy infrastructure, industrial history, available acreage, and location along Lake Erie make it a significant redevelopment opportunity for the city and broader region.

Local officials and Genover will continue evaluating potential uses for the property, with a focus on opportunities that can generate private investment, create jobs, strengthen the local tax base, and return the strategically important site to productive use.

For more information about the CCIDA and economic development initiatives throughout Chautauqua County, visit ChooseCHQ.com.