Twice during the heat dome that drove temperatures into the mid 90s in late June, the state Independent System Operator issued an energy warning.

During the hottest days of the hot spell the ISO was noticing a decline in operating reserves. On June 29, the grid operated normally but emergency operations were a possibility to maintain system reliability. The morning of June 30, the ISO noted potential afternoon strains on the grid on a cooler Wednesday. “Special Case Resources and Emergency Demand Response Program resources are needed,” the notice indicated, between 2 and 9 p.m. in zones of the state that included Western New York.

When that notice was sent dual fuels, natural gas and nuclear were 83% of the energy being generated. Hydropower was at 15% while solar was around 3% and wind was at 0.29%.

We’re not sure Gov. Kathy Hochul could have timed her directive to the New York Power Authority to build a new nuclear plant somewhere in Upstate New York any better. After years of dumping dollar after dollar after dollar into wind and solar power, they produced a whopping 3.29% of the state’s electricity. It was renewable energy’s time to shine – and it fizzled.

Years of the Independent System Operator’s warnings about looming power shortages took on new urgency a couple of weeks ago. New York always knew it couldn’t pin all of its renewable energy hope on wind and solar power. Reliable sources of power that aren’t dependent on weather have been part of every zero emission power grid model since the state passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act in 2019. But in 2019 the reliable power source didn’t exist yet.

There was hope it would be battery storage, but as the CLCPA’s deadlines loom that technology isn’t ready for prime time. Environmentalists have deemed natural gas not clean enough to continue using. So, we find ourselves going back to the future with nuclear power plants.

Hochul’s decision to pursue nuclear power to meet the state’s power needs calls into question the millions of dollars the state and federal government have thrown at solar and wind power over the past couple of decades only to find that nuclear power or keeping natural gas in use to generate electricity are the best options to make sure the lights come on when you flip a switch, that your car charges when you plug it in at night and your refrigerator continues running during a heat wave.

The state must take the best options to guarantee consistent, reliable power throughout the state. Right now, it appears nuclear power or natural gas are the best options to do so.