Indian Point is Safe, Clean, and Essential
Arthur “Jerry” Kremer, New York AREA Chairman
On December 17th, Victor Gilinsky, a former member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission wrote a scathing opinion editorial for The New York Times, lambasting his former agency for even considering the relicensing of Indian Point Energy Center. Now an energy consultant, Gilinsky is a scientist, and was an NRC commissioner from 1975-84. Yet, his article was alarmist and left out some very important, basic information.
Gilinksy makes no mention that Indian Point has undergone continuous, rigorous scrutiny during a five-year license renewal process regimen – and been found safe to operate another 20 years.
The NRC has an excellent track record: In 50 years of commercial U.S. nuclear power plant operations, no one has ever died from a radiological-related death. In fact, a study by Columbia University of 35,000 nuclear plant employees across the US, found they live longer and have lower cancer rates than the population at large.
Mr. Galisnky mentions that the consequences of land contamination should be weighed in any decision to re-license the plant’s two reactors, yet fails to acknowledge that the possibility of such a catastrophe is part of the NRC’s day to day safety regimen – not just when the license comes up.
Safety has always been paramount at Indian Point and all U.S. nuclear power plants.
Furthermore, the events at Fukushima cannot happen at Indian Point, which is 35 miles inland, sits 30 feet above the Hudson River on bedrock, and has multiple cooling and backup redundancies that Fukushima does not have. Since the 1970’s there have been three extensive earthquake studies about Indian Point. All concluded that earthquakes are not a danger to the plant.
Non-emitting nuclear power is one of the cleanest ways of creating electricity we have in New York. New York’s nuclear power plants provide 12% of New York State’s power and 25% of the power consumed downstate.
New York needs its abundant, low-cost power, which is also vital to both air quality and grid reliability.
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