Earlier this month, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) denied a water permit renewal to the Indian Point nuclear power plant, declaring that the plant’s method of drawing water to cool its towers violates the Clean Water Act. The DEC maintained that the plant’s water intake process destroys plankton, eggs and small fish that become trapped against the filter screens. Additionally, the water pumped back into the river is twenty to thirty degrees warmer, further disrupting the microenvironment surrounding the pipes. If Entergy, the plant’s owner, cannot secure DEC approval before the existing permits expire in 2013 and 2015, the company will be forced to spend more than $1 billion in upgrading the cooling system, or worse, shut down the facility permanently. Even if Entergy does choose the former, the project will require closing both nuclear reactors for nearly a year.
Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant in Buchanan, NY
Further complicating Entergy’s difficulties, the company is still deciding how to cope with a decision in Vermont in February in which the State Senate voted to close down the Vermont Yankee plant after 2012 because of safety fears. Indian Point produces 2,000 megawatts of power or 30% of New York City’s electricity demand and Vermont Yankee generates power for 33% of Vermont. If these two plants are closed, electricity rates for consumers will likely increase sharply. As it is, New York City has some of the highest electricity rates in the country, and Vermont’s rates are well above average. Higher electricity costs will certainly be a burden to businesses and residents in these areas, and may even coerce some companies to relocate where their operating costs are much lower. Since Indian Point and Vermont Yankee supply so much power to their respective regions, any replacement capacity will probably come from large fossil fuel sources, increasing greenhouse gas and particulate emissions.
Forcing Entergy to shut down these two plants is irresponsible. The electricity grid is already constrained and energy prices will only increase as the economy strengthens. If the plants close, prices will become far more volatile, creating uncertainties for thousands of businesses. While environmental and safety hazards should absolutely be a concern, careful safety inspections and incremental infrastructure upgrades are the answer here, not terminating all nuclear generation facilities.
