Closing Indian Point

Indian Point Nuclear Center is located 38 miles north of New York City in Buchanan, New York. It is home to a nuclear power plant that supplies around 30% of the power in Westchester County and New York City. The Entergy Corporation, which owns Indian Point, wants to renew its operating permits for 20 more years. Local governments and environmentalists, however, would rather see the center closed. Here is a breakdown of some of the pros and cons regarding the issue.

Pros: Indian Point is a safety risk. On September 11, 2001, it is said that the two airplanes that struck the World Trade Center flew over Indian Point. The thought of a terrorist attack occurring at Indian Point has caused many locals to abdicate for its closing. If one or both of the planes had hit Indian Point, there could have been a nuclear crisis affecting one of the most densely populated parts of the country for years. Around 20 million people live within 50 miles of Indian Point.

Pros: Other safety risks: The reactor was built in the mid 1970‘s. This causes some to fear the increased risk of malfunction. In January, 2012, Indian Point shut down one of its reactors due to a problem in a cooling pump. This scares a lot of people because as we have seen in the past (Fukushima), many problems can arise from malfunctioning or defunct cooling operations.

Pros: Environmental impact. There are also fears that radioactive material can be leaking into the Hudson River. In 2005, workers found a leak in a building containing radioactive water. tritium and strontium 90 were leaked into the river. The New York Times also reported finding nickel-63 and strontium in groundwater in 2006.

Cons: Loss of Energy. It is unclear whether or not the energy produced at Indian Point could be replaced by other sources. The idea is that the energy would be provided by a multitude of sources, divvying up the responsibility. Some energy would come from renewable sources like wind and solar. Some would come from increased productivity and efficiency at other plants.

Cons: Safety a non-factor. Entergy has explained that the problem with the cooling pump has nothing to do with an aging plant. The part that needed to be replaced is not original. It was simply unsafe to do the repair while operational.

Cons: Economic impact. Indian Point employs and supports the employment of approximately 2,500 jobs. It also generates somewhere around 3 billion dollars for the nearby counties, New York State, and the country.

Personally, I would prefer Indian Point shut down. My family lives within the 50 mile radius so the consequences of an attack or meltdown would affect me. I do not live close enough, however, for my community to benefit from the economic power of Indian Point. I also think that New York needs to be more of a leader with renewable energy sources.

http://www.thedailycortlandt.com/news/greenburgh-reiterates-call-close-indian-point

http://www.safesecurevital.com/
http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Indian%20Point%20Nuclear%20Power%20Plant