nuclear-news

Governor Cuomo’s $7.6 billion nuclear bailout excessive. New York would do better with renewable energy

Cuomo is going to tax us on our electric bills to benefit one wealthy company — Exelon Corp. The present owners want to shut down these Vietnam-era clunkers as too old and expensive.

Nuclear power is a dirty and dangerous way to produce electricity, especially compared to solar and wind. Renewable energy also is far more cost-effective in creating jobs.

The claim that nukes are carbon-free ignores the life cycle of the plants. The mining and processing of the radioactive uranium fuel has a major carbon footprint. The toxic waste must be safely stored for tens of thousands of years — far longer that human civilization has existed.

When the New York Independent System Operator looked at the planned deactivation of one of these nuclear plants, it found the power wasn’t needed. What is needed is a clean renewable energy future as quickly as possible to give us a chance to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The governor’s $7.6 billion nuke bailout is much greater than the funding provided for renewable energy. While Cuomo’s Clean Energy Standard includes off-shore wind, he has not yet committed to purchasing electricity from offshore wind even though the best site in the United States is off of Long Island. In effect, that means Cuomo hasn’t made a long-term commitment to offshore wind.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency would mean cheaper energy, a healthier environment and more jobs.

November 18, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general