Mount Sinai NY
10-16-2026 1:33pm

New York State Purchases Nearly 750 Acres Around Former Shoreham Nuclear Plant in Historic $28.25 Million Deal

By Samantha Vogel
Editor, Long Island Daily News

SHOREHAM, N.Y. | October 16, 2026

In a major environmental and land preservation announcement for Long Island, New York State has purchased nearly 750 acres of undeveloped property surrounding the former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, securing one of the largest remaining stretches of coastal open space along Long Island Sound.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the $28.25 million acquisition on Thursday, October 15, describing it as a significant step toward protecting the region’s natural environment, drinking water resources and coastal ecosystems.

The property, located in Shoreham and Wading River in Suffolk County, was purchased from National Grid by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

State officials describe the transaction as the largest land acquisition ever completed by the DEC on Long Island.

From Nuclear Power Controversy to Conservation

The Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant remains one of the most controversial infrastructure projects in Long Island history.

Originally developed as a nuclear energy facility, the plant faced years of opposition involving public safety, emergency evacuation planning, environmental concerns and escalating costs.

The project was ultimately abandoned in 1989, and the facility was decommissioned in 1994.

Although the nuclear power project ended decades ago, much of the surrounding land remained undeveloped.

The state’s acquisition now ensures that this property will be preserved rather than opened to future development.

For generations of Long Islanders who remember the debate surrounding Shoreham, the announcement represents a significant new chapter in the property’s history.

Protecting Long Island’s Drinking Water and Wildlife

The nearly 750-acre parcel contains a diverse collection of natural habitats, including coastal forests, wetlands, beaches, bluffs and rare pine barrens ecosystems.

According to state environmental officials, the property includes more than 40 acres of tidal marshes and shrub swamps, as well as coastal bluffs reaching approximately 100 feet in height.

The land also provides habitat for numerous wildlife species, including osprey and the endangered piping plover.

Beyond wildlife conservation, protecting the property is particularly important because Long Island relies heavily on underground aquifers for its drinking water.

Preserving undeveloped land can help protect groundwater recharge areas while limiting additional development-related pressures on sensitive ecosystems.

The acquisition also helps safeguard a substantial stretch of the Long Island Sound shoreline.

Where the $28.25 Million Came From

According to the governor’s announcement, the purchase was funded through a combination of environmental protection programs.

Funding sources included the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Long Island Sound Partnership Program, New York’s Clean Water Infrastructure Act and the 1996 Clean Water, Clean Air Bond Act.

The state has not announced a detailed breakdown of how much each funding source contributed.

The purchase is part of New York’s broader conservation efforts, including the state’s goal of protecting 30 percent of its lands and waters by 2030.

Public Trails and Recreational Access Planned

The property will be managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Officials say future plans include designated walking trails, a public parking area and expanded opportunities for residents to experience the area’s natural surroundings.

However, those improvements are not yet complete.

Planning and installation are expected to take place over the coming years, and the state has not announced a specific opening date for the proposed public access facilities.

The distinction is important for residents hoping to visit the property: the land has been acquired for conservation, but the planned recreational infrastructure is still in development.

Environmental Organizations Welcome Acquisition

The announcement has drawn support from several Long Island environmental organizations, including Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Save the Sound, the Long Island Pine Barrens Society and The Nature Conservancy.

These organizations have advocated for protecting the region’s forests, wetlands, shoreline and drinking water resources.

Conservation advocates have emphasized that opportunities to preserve such large, contiguous areas of undeveloped land are increasingly rare on densely populated Long Island.

The Shoreham property had been identified as a preservation priority in New York’s 2016 Open Space Conservation Plan and remained a priority in the draft 2026 plan.

What This Means for Suffolk County Residents

The acquisition raises several important questions about the future management of the property.

Residents may want to know when public access will begin, how trails and parking will be designed, what long-term maintenance will cost and how sensitive wildlife habitats will be protected from increased recreational activity.

For Suffolk County, the purchase represents a substantial public investment in open-space preservation.

It also marks a transition for land historically associated with a failed nuclear power project, replacing the possibility of future development with a long-term conservation commitment.

While the environmental protections are now in place, the public will have to wait for additional information about recreational access and site improvements.

For now, nearly 750 acres of Long Island’s North Shore have been secured for future generations.

Long Island Daily News will continue monitoring the property’s development, public access plans and environmental preservation efforts.

Long Island Daily News
Independent Local News Serving Nassau & Suffolk Counties

https://longislanddailynews.town.news

News Tips: LongIslandDailyNews@outlook.com

Reporting note: This article is based on the October 15, 2026 state announcement and independently published reporting. Long Island Daily News did not conduct an independent site inspection or interview state officials for this report.

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