Indian Point is safe and beneficial

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To the editor,

With respect to Congressman Engel’s recent op-ed on Indian Point (“Indian Point Could be a Disaster,” July 6), a few key matters must be addressed.

Indian Point is safe and provides many important economic and environmental benefits to the Bronx and Riverdale. It consistently earns the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s highest annual safety rating. Furthermore, Indian Point has been under unprecedented, rigorous scrutiny since its license renewal process began more than eight years ago — and NRC staff has recommended license renewal for another 20 years. Indian Point’s owner, Entergy, has invested more than $1 billion to make it a world-class facility. 

New Yorkers have the distinction of living in a state with the 4th lowest greenhouse gas emissions. How is that possible? New York State receives close to 30% of its power from nuclear power plants, including from Indian Point, which emit virtually no greenhouse gas emissions. 

The May 2015 transformer malfunction was unfortunate, but was never a threat to public safety. Transformers are not unique to nuclear power plants, but are found at all types of power generating stations, including wind and fossil plants . Moreover, the transformer failure at Indian Point was on the non-nuclear side of the plant. 

Also, the plant is built to withstand an earthquake 100 times stronger than any earthquake that has ever hit the region. For decades, independent experts have looked at the issue of potential earthquakes’ impact to Indian Point and consistently determined the plant is safe. 

Also, many of America’s biggest cities have nearby nuclear plants and the tri-state region is no exception; just ask your neighbors in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania where they get over a third of their electric power-nuclear plants. This is important as the plants power the lights, air conditioners and servers, and otherwise meet the electricity needs of millions — without creating air pollution. 

A recent independent study documented Indian Point accounts for 5,400 New York jobs and $1.6 billion in annual state economic activity. The benefits are far too great, and the safeguards far too extensive, for an important and productive economic driver for our region to be shut off before its time.                                   

Arthur “Jerry” Kremer
Chairman
New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance

Indian Point, environmental, Arthur Kremer

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