THREAT LEVEL: EXTREMELY DIRE
Indian Point
Governor Cuomo has played politics with New York State's clean energy. In order to appease politically-active special interest groups in the down-state region, Cuomo forced the closure of Indian Point. While shale economics mean that no other source of electricity is economic in New York, preserving existing nuclear plants is the lowest-cost means of preventing greenhouse gas emissions. Depriving Indian Point of Zero Emissions Credits has led Entergy, the operator, to leave New York.
The closure of Indian Point is causing a massive increase of fossil fuel combustion at new fracked gas plants and is causing aging fossil plants in Metro New York City to be repowered to operate for 30 more years. This creates air pollution in environmental justice neighborhoods and increases greenhouse gas emissions by 12-15 million tonnes of CO2e (GWP20). Cuomo is literally making policies that impact emissions and air quality to remain popular, rather than to do the right thing.
One reactor was shut in April 2020, and the last reactor closed on April 30, 2021. The technical and legal point of no return is near with Entergy rendering the operating license and Holtec beginning the decommissioning later in May 2021.
Indian Point Background
Indian Point Unit 2 was closed in April 2020 despite the hazards of increasing particulate pollution during a respiratory pandemic. Governor Cuomo and his office never responded to our petition, with over 10,000 signatures, or our letter with the signatures of hundreds of experts. Entergy, the owner of Indian Point, is slated to close Unit 3 in April 2021 under the closure agreement forced by Governor Cuomo. Members of this coalition are continuing to oppose both closures and working to restore full operation. Members and organizers of Nuclear New York continue to drive this campaign and we invite you to explore their website and connect with them if you are interested in helping with the next phase of the Save Indian Point campaign.
What You Can Do
Indian Point Historical Performance
Initiatives to save Indian Point
There is a great deal of expert information on Climate Coalition and Nuclear New York, groups that have studied the issue of Indian Point for a long time. Also our other coalition partner groups' sites, including Stop Cricket Valley, Protect Orange County, Footprint to Wings, Generation Atomic. All of this groups and others devoted to supporting clean nuclear energy in New York State and everywhere. Please take the time to learn more and support our efforts to compel Cuomo to prioritize protecting our climate, clean air and health by suspending the permanent closure of downstate New York’s largest source of clean energy until all fossil generation is closed.
(Details coming soon!)