nuclear-news

Indian Point nuclear power plant – many want it shut down

Nuclear Power Debate Heats Up in NYCs Backyard: Relicensing Controversy Intensifies AOL Energy By Jared Anderson  October 16, 2012  The battle lines have been drawn for years, but the fight over nuclear power’s risks and benefits reached a new stage in New York this week where issues including public safety, reliability, the environment and ratepayer costs are being disputed.

The Indian Point nuclear power plant run by Entergy generates over 2,000 MW approximately 30 miles north of New York City. Supplying roughly 25% of New York City’s and Westchester County’s electricity, the plant’s operating licenses are due to expire within the next few years and the federal hearings are drawing Indian Point’s proponents and critics into stark relief.

The plant is located in Buchanan about 35 miles north of Manhattan on the east side of the Hudson River. The argument in favor of closing the plant stems primarily from public health concerns.

“The central concern is the plant has been there for forty years and is aging in a number of ways,” Kit Kennedy, Senior Council for the Natural Resources Defense Council told AOL Energy. “The plant was poorly sited to begin with given the densely populated area – the plant would never be approved today,” she said.

The NRDC maintains extreme weather events like storms, flooding and earthquakes that occur fairly regularly in the area pose sufficient risk for the plant to be shut down. New York State also takes this view and Governor Cuomo advocates Indian Point’s closure…… http://energy.aol.com/2012/10/16/nuclear-power-debate-heats-up-in-nycs-backyard-relicensing-cont/

October 17, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA