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| Fig. 1: The Indian Point Nuclear Energy Center (Source: Wikimedia Commons) |
In 2017, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to shut down Indian Point 2 Energy Center in 2021 (see Fig. 1). It is a large nuclear power plant that produced 2,000 megawatts of power. It was opened in the 1970s. [1] The plant and its partnership with Consolidated Edison (Con-Ed) have historically been a key source of power to New York City and the tri-state area. [2] The original 40-year licenses for the three power plants at the facility had begun to expire in 2013. After many delays in the relicensing decision, Cuomo decided to phase out the power plant over a four-year period. [3] The decision ended a decades-long debate over concerns of terrorism, natural disaster, and contamination at the plant. These concerns were compounded by the plant's location just 24 miles north of New York City. [4] While some politicians praised the shutdown, others questioned the ability to replace the 2000 megawatts of energy the plant currently supplies and thus to economically justify the shutdown. [2] The debate over Indian Point represents the present-day argument surrounding the safety of nuclear power plants near large populations, especially in the wake of the Fukushima meltdown. There is concern that perhaps excessive fears are steering governments away from an efficient, often environmentally friendly form of energy.
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| Fig. 2: IAEA inspectors in the aftermath of the nuclear disaster at Fukushima. The event caused many to imagine apocalyptic scenarios at Indian Point and to call for the plant's closure. (Source: Wikimedia Commons) |
Two key events brought forward major safety concerns about Indian Point: September 11th in 2001 and the Fukushima Japanese disaster in 2011 (see Fig. 2). In the early 2000s, a set of studies that analyzed emergency preparations at Indian Point were presented in Congressional Hearings. Jim Wells, in testimony to the U.S. Senate, noted several weaknesses identified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that spoke to a lack of effectiveness. He also noted multiple instances of problems that were not reported in a timely manner to relevant authorities. There was a distinct communication problem between the plant and local municipal governments and regulators. [4] Another report (Witt), cited by Wells but independent of the U.S. government inquiry, found the response system and capabilities to be inadequate to protect the public from an unacceptable dose of radiation in the event of a disaster. [4] Some criticisms of the report, in the same source, claimed an undue weight on terrorism risks. Nonetheless, the safety concerns continued to mount, creating political pressure from a public concerned about the continued operation of a power plant so close to a major metropolis. [4]
In light of the findings and the opportunity presented by plant's original 40-year lease's ending, Cuomo announced a phased closure. He had visited the plant several publicized times and had made the issue a key one of his time as governor. The plan came as a slight surprise and was ahead of a timeline presented by the company Entergy, whose major ownership stake in the plant had made the company a politically relevant lobbying force. [1]
With the decommission, new sources of energy need to be found to replace the 2000 megawatts lost. A committee tasked with addressing the issue of a potential power supply gap, the Committee on Alternatives to Indian Point for Meeting Energy Needs, noted that any new plan or source would have to clear significant political and economic hurdles. [2] The report noted that the Committee was not confident that a solution would be easy or even possible, while Cuomo made the claim that the closure would not have any harmful economic impacts. [1,2] According to some onlookers, though, the closure would have made economic sense in the longer run, with natural gas prices falling and increased affordability of renewable energy sources. [1]
The shutdown of the nuclear facility at Indian Point is now inevitable in 2021, with the combination of public support and government motivation spelling the end of a four-decade relationship between the New York City area and the power plant. Whether the shutdown will lead to a power gap and increased prices is unclear, as plans to provide new energy sources will need to get political, public, and economic backing. The decision to close the plant, however, comes as no surprise in the current nuclear energy environment; its proximity to New York City, lack of expected and reasonable communication, and lack of easily identifiable economic benefits (these may become noticeable, though, in 2021) gave arguments against Indian Point significant weight.
While he's argued against Indian Point, Cuomo's recent subsidy of $7.6 billion to upstate nuclear plants has drawn criticism and "[calls] of hypocrisy." Many experts argue that concerns about Indian Point are overblown and can easily be avoided by taking reasonable precautions. [1] The debate itself, rather than representing significant or even clearly-correct economic and political arguments, seems to represent a lack of education and an abundance of fear when it comes to thinking about nuclear power plants (particularly those close to cities). It remains to be seen what the true effects of the closure will be on the economy, politics, or the environment. It is clear, however, that if Indian Point's closure is not diligently managed and thought out, there will be significant consequences for the inhabitants of New York City and its surrounding area. [2]
© Dante Mangiaracina. The author warrants that the work is the author's own and that Stanford University provided no input other than typesetting and referencing guidelines. The author grants permission to copy, distribute and display this work in unaltered form, with attribution to the author, for noncommercial purposes only. All other rights, including commercial rights, are reserved to the author.
[1] M. J. French and D. Giambusso, "With Plans to Close Indian Point Now Official, New Questions Are Raised," Politico, 9 Jan 17.
[2] Alternatives to the Indian Point Energy Center for Meeting New York Electric Power Needs (National Academies Press, 2006).
[3] A. Dunne, "Ruling Orders New Cost Analysis For Potential Accidents at Indian Point," WAMC, 5 May 16.
[4] "Nuclear Regulation: Emergency Preparedness Issues at the Indian Point 2 Nuclear Power Plant," U.S. General Accounting Office, GAO-03-528T, March 2003.
