Indian Point closure is justified but too late (Rev 6:12)

Letter to the Editor: Indian Point closure is justified

May 20, 2020

Your article of May 6 which describes Pramilla Malick’s criticism of Clearwater and of Riverkeeper in regard to the recent closing of one of Indian Point’s reactors is both inaccurate and unfair.

The decision to close Indian Point was made about three years ago, as part of a Settlement Agreement between Indian Point’s owner, Entergy, the NYS Office of the Attorney General and Riverkeeper.   NY State’s aggressive Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), passed last year, provides for a robust transition to renewable energy, which includes power from 1700 megawatts of wind turbines in the Atlantic off Long Island and 1250 megawatts of transmission improvement to the grid as a source of power to replace the absence of Indian Point.  CLCPA also includes 3,000 megawatts of storage to ensure grid reliability.  That plan is presently being executed, and Clearwater stands by our assertion that Indian Point should be closed as we move to a renewable power economy.   To claim that “they” (meaning both organizations) have disregard for climate change and its effects is absurd.   Combating the global climate crisis is a major part of our mission.

Malick’s assertion that the shutdown of one of the Indian Point reactors should have been delayed because of the present pandemic is also unjustified as well as ironic.  Rather than increased greenhouse gas emissions, the pandemic is resulting in substantially decreased emissions because of decreased activity.   While this benefit will be reduced as we slowly resume normal activity, the benefit from an environmental point of view is substantial.

Peter Capek
(Member of the Board of Directors of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc.)

The views expressed in this letter belong to the author and do not necessarily represent those of Mid Hudson News.