Life Without Indian Point?
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PRESORTED STANDARD PERMIT #3036 WHITE PLAINS NY Vol. VI No. III Thursday, January 19, 2012 $1.00 Westchester’s Most Influential Weekly Creating a Monster Life without Page 5 Indian Point? By ABBY LUBY, Page 10 Creative Disruption Page 8 OCD: THe World Within Page 11 Porgy & Bess Page 13 There’s Life... And Then There’s Living Page 14 Oppenheimer Will Not Seek Re-election Page 15 The Political Losing the Fight Against Crime in New Femme Fatale Rochelle Transparency, Respect, Arrogance, Page 19 Strategy, Honesty Hating Tim Tebow By HEZI ARIS, Page 23 Page 24 westchesterguardian.com Page 10 THE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012 ENERGY MATTERS state’s economy and electrical lines from upstate New York or Canada include Life without Indian Point? system? And how can we tap into the Champlain Hudson Cable, New York Power the surplus electricity being gener- Pathway, and the West Point Transmission Line. By ABBY LUBY ated by facilities in upstate New Gonzalez warned that replacement York, electricity that could replace NEW YORK, NY -- In Indian Point’s output? a landmark public hearing last Prohibiting the flow of needed electricity to Thursday, January 12, 2012, state the southern part of New York and to New York lawmakers listened to testimony City is known as “transmission congestion.” on the potential effects of closing “The last transmission upgrade was in down the Indian Point nuclear power plants just 1987,” Brennan told NYISO Chief Operating 24 miles north of New York City. In a public Joseph Oates, Con Edison Vice President of hearing that lasted most of the day here in lower Energy Management. Manhattan, the New York State Assembly Committee on Energy heard from regulatory Gonzalez said NYISO used a model study that and utility brass who support the continued looked at a generic solution to congestion where operation of the twin reactors in Buchanan and the cost ratio benefits were greater than one. “In from experts who want to shutter the 40 year old general, the beneficiaries [rate payers] would twin reactors. have to pay for the upgrade.” The hearing room was filled to capacity. NYISO oversees and operates New York’s More than 16 Assembly members sat on the Anti nuclear activist at Indian Point public hearing. resources must be in place before closing Indian Gary Shaw, Croton-on-Hudson resident who Point. “Failure to do that will have serious reli- resides near the Indian Point nuclear power Protesters outside the Indian Point public ability consequences and an increase in rolling plant. hearing held on Thursday, January 12, 2012, blackouts.” at 250 Broadway. Verbal sparring about the reliability of electricity produced by Indian Point to panel led by Assemblyman Kevin A. Cahill, the plant’s safety reliability was initiated by Chairman of the Committee on Energy, and Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee from Rockland. Assemblyman James F. Brennan. Testimony, Jaffee intoned a history of accidental shutdowns which was by invitation only, was heard from at Indian Point, including the most recent shut- the New York Independent System Operators down last Monday from a broken pump seal at A crowded room at the Indian Point public (NYISO), Con Ed, New York Public Service Unit 2. hearing held in New York City. “Given an aging plant and its shutdowns, how can you suggest that Indian Point is a reli- electricity grid and plans for future energy needs able source of energy?” asked Jaffee, who received of the state. Brennan pressed Gonzalez on how a round of applause. to get power downstate. “My reliability statement is focused on grid “What could we do more quickly to lessen reliability, not the reliability of the plant,” said transmission congestion?” Gonzalez mentioned Gonzalez. a few programs NYISO was considering to Jaffee referred to the disaster last year at augment the existing transmission system. “It the nuclear power plants in Fukushima, where would get us 300 megawatts,” he said. a major earthquake and tsunami caused the At times panel members seemed to destruction of four plants resulting in a core (L-R): Assemblyman James Brennan, bartering for more electricity to replace the 2000 Assemblyman Kevin A. Cahill, Chairman of meltdown and the large release of radiation. “I megawatts produced by Indian Point. question whether Indian Point is reliable or safe, the Committee on Energy, and Assemblyman Of the current projects geared to bring especially in light of what happened in Japan,” Andrew Hevesi. additional power to New York City, some are she said. Occupy Wall Street environmental group already have the green light; others are in the Gonzalez was questioned for over an hour, Commission, Synapse, an energy consulting activist Luna Scarano. approval process. The already approved Hudson a terse exchange at times only to be ironi- firm, Indian Point owner Entergy and others. Transmission Line is expected to bring 660 cally interrupted by the lights going out for no Environmental groups such as Clearwater and Officer, Rick Gonzalez. “We’ve been talking megawatts from New Jersey to Manhattan. The apparent reason, garnering a moment of humor Riverkeeper were not invited to speak, but the about upgrades for decades. Why is it taking so completion date is 2013. Pending is the Cross in the proceedings. panel encouraged the groups and the public to long?” Hudson Line, which will offer 800 megawatts Activists made their voice heard during a submit written testimony. “This issue is the cost allocations,” said from New Jersey to Manhattan. Other pending break and chanted the benefits of closing Indian Would closing Indian Point impact the Gonzalez. “Who will pay for the upgrades?” proposals to build 1,000 megawatt transmission Continued on page 11 THE WEstCHEstER GuardIAN THURSDAY, JANuary 19, 2012 Page 11 ENERGY MATTERS Life without Indian Point? management told the panel that on the hottest in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and if it could make about safe evacuation, Hudson River fish-kill by summer day, if the plant wasn’t producing elec- up the lost power from a retired Indian Point. thermal pollution and the precarious location of Continued from page 10 tricity, there would be a 1,000 megawatt shortfall. “Could taking power from a co-generated the plant on a seismic fault. Point. Lead by Luna Scarano, an activist from Cahill asked Oates how they would replace the market in the future be a potentially economical It is unknown at this time how the Assembly the Occupy Wall Street environmental group, power if the state closed down the plant. purchase?” Energy committee will use the information numerous anti nuclear activists echoed Scarano’s “We have not made any firm plans if Oates agreed. “Co-generation is a more effi- from the public hearing. The committee has the shouted words admonishing the plant for threat- the state decides that. There’s been no official cient use of the fuel because we are using it twice. power to enact legislation and amend energy law ening the lives of 20 million people who wouldn’t announcement of a plant shut down – that We are open to good ideas, especially ones that and policies that impact energy availability and be able to evacuate in case of an serious accident process hasn’t been triggered,” Oates answered. will minimize the cost for the customer.” Public Service Law. at Indian Point. “What if Indian Point has to construct Both operating licenses for units 2 and 3 Photos by Abby Luby and courtesy of Abby Luby Indian Point 2 produces 1,028 mega- cooling towers and the plant has to close? Is Con at Indian Point will expire in 2013 and 2015. Photos. watts of electricity and Indian Point 3 produces Ed prepared for that contingency?” asked Cahill. Entergy applied to the Nuclear Regulatory 1,041 megawatts. Currently Con Edison, who “We are preparing generic types of solutions. Commission in 2007 to renew their licenses, but Abby Luby is a Westchester based, freelance jour- purchases 350 megawatts of electricity from If a situation of retrofitting required support, our their application has met much resistance from nalist who writes local news, about environmental Entergy, transmits between a total of 9,000 and recommendation would be to shut only one Governor Andrew Cuomo and environmental issues, art, entertainment and food. Her debut novel, 13,000 megawatts of electricity to New York City plant at a time to satisfy needs in the short term.” groups Riverkeeper and Clearwater. Since the “Nuclear Romance” was recently published. Visit the and Westchester during daily peak periods. Joseph Breenan asked Oates about electricity nuclear disaster in Fukushima last March, the book’s website, http://nuclearromance.wordpress. Oates, Con Edison’s vice president of energy produced by the gas powered, cogenerated plant anti-nuclear movement has rallied with concerns com/. HEALTH Participants will receive a copy of the new The need for caregivers is at a crisis level “Livable Communities CareCircle Guide: Step today because fewer and fewer family members Training to Start for New CareCircle Initiative Forward and Give Back,” a how-to manual that are available to help Westchester’s growing explains the way to start, maintain and coor- senior population. Today, 20 percent of all county RYE BROOK, NY -- A training session dinate a CareCircle. It also includes general residents – one in five people – are 60 or older. for volunteers who want to participate in the information for caregivers, a listing of commu- People live longer today. Siblings pass away and CareCircle initiative of Westchester County’s nity resources and a glossary. DSPS sponsors children move away. As a result, seniors must Department of Senior Programs and Services the CareCircle initiative with the Westchester turn to their friends, neighbors and other seniors (DSPS) will take place on Jan.