Nuclear power plants happen to be very nice. They might look shamelessly heinous, but as the saying goes- ‘ diamonds on the inside’. In the case of nuclear power plants there is energy on the inside, rather than diamonds. Call me a crazy hippie, but energy is as precious as diamonds. I talked about some real nuclear stuff in my Fukushima Daiichi disaster blog, so I do not feel the need to delve too much into the benefits of nuclear energy. It is nice. That is all.
25 miles north of New York City, on the east bank of the Hudson River there rests the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. This plant is responsible for 30% of the electricity used in New York City and Westchester County. Which is quite a bit of energy. The issues that seem to be bothering people is that the plant was opened in 1962. This makes it a little freakishly “out-dated” in terms of how advanced and protected nuclear plants are in present days. Fukushima has created fear in many of the NY residents, also. A plant must be constantly updated and up-to-par. But, what is there to do? If the plant is shut down, there will be substantial financial challenges, and energy will be compromised ( threats of grid failure etc…).
Let me point out that there are 3 reactors on site, one of which is already shut down, and has been shut down since 1974. It was not making the cut. By the vague ‘cut’, I mean that the emergency cooling system was not up to the standards necessary to function under an emergency.
Que the eerie music and thoughts flash-backing to Fukushima emergency cooling system…
Alright so, right off the bat there is 1 shut down nuclear reactor out of 3, and one was built 50 years ago. Okayyyy……………… sigh.
The two lone rangers of the bunch: nuclear reactors #2 and #3 are functioning, built between the years 1974-1976. These two nuclear nuggets are the suppliers of 30% of the electricity in New York city. That’s a big deal. Huge domes made from concrete and steel also protect the reactors. Very fashionable.
Alright, I will pipe down about aesthetics. OH it is also ranked one of the worst nuclear plants in the world. Thought I might casually mention that.
There is one major con to the plant shutting down: of course, it is a Fiscal con.
According to the NY Times: Electricity prices would rise 12%, which translates to 1.4 billion dollars a year! Aye carumba. Lets ask Germany to help us out.
Another CON= the fact that 2.1 million customers in southern New York would, could, should have power interruptions between 2016-2020.
PROS: well, this nuclear plant is rickety. Which is scary. It is susceptible to lots of scary stuff. There was a case where loads of mucky water from the Hudson polluted one of the reactors. So, if the 40 year license expires in 2013, governor Cuomo NY, would like it to be shut down. Against the cons listed above. He is freaked out by the threats of ever being faced with another terrorist attack, and how unprotected the plant is. Even with those fashionable domes around it. Poor thing is vulnerable.
It is a matter of safety and immediately implementing new ways of electricity for NYC or just keeping it running, through the threats of emergencies or attacks. Frankly, I think Entergy, who owns the plant should find some ways to get new, fresh energy. And then, carefully dismantle the plant in time. I am pretty damn frustrated by people’s inability to recognize the important of taking care of clean energy production in America. We just gotta do what is right. For the sake of our children and theirs. Get it done. Do the right thing. Stop all the fuss and invest into stopping what is hurting this earth.
Here are the links, majority NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/opinion/is-indian-point-the-next-fukushima.html?_r=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Point_Energy_Center
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/nyregion/17towns.html