Lawler Introduces Bill To Provide Economic Relief To Communities Impacted By Nuclear Plant Closures

Washington, D.C. - 3/6/26… This week, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Economic Recovery for Nuclear-Affected Communities Act, legislation that will deliver direct economic relief to communities burdened by stranded nuclear waste and the loss of local nuclear power plants.

Communities across the country, including those in New York, are currently serving as long-term nuclear waste storage sites after plant closures. While these communities lose jobs and critical tax revenues, the nuclear fuel remains onsite, limiting redevelopment and deterring future investments to the surrounding areas.

Located in the Village of Buchanan in Westchester County, the Indian Point Energy Center operated for more than four decades as one of the region's largest sources of carbon-free electricity, supplying roughly 25 percent of the region's power, including New York City, and providing reliable baseload energy to the downstate grid. Following its closure in 2020 and 2021, the community lost hundreds of good-paying jobs and a substantial share of its local tax base, even as spent nuclear fuel remains stored onsite pending a permanent federal repository.

Key provisions of this bill include:

• Providing financial assistance to communities impacted by nuclear plant closures to support economic recovery.

• Introducing a tax credit for homebuyers to draw new residents and businesses to these areas.

• Establishing compensation for proposals aimed at redeveloping former nuclear sites, facilitating their revitalization.

"Supporting communities that host stranded nuclear waste is essential to economic recovery and future growth. By providing direct financial assistance and incentives for redevelopment, this legislation helps these communities rebuild local economies that attract new residents and businesses. It ensures that these communities are not left behind to struggle with the burden of nuclear waste storage," said Congressman Lawler.

Congressman Lawler has been actively engaged in oversight of the site's decommissioning and its impact on Hudson Valley residents. In 2023, he pressed Holtec International for greater transparency, demanded detailed answers regarding the handling and disposal of radioactive wastewater, and called for stronger coordination with state, local, and federal officials to protect public health and the Hudson River.

He has also advocated for policies that strengthen grid reliability and support nuclear energy as a critical component of New York's clean energy future, emphasizing that any transition away from baseload power must prioritize affordability, environmental responsibility, and the needs of Hudson Valley families.

"For far too long, the State of New York has failed to abide by its agreement to find a permanent repository for spent nuclear waste. The Village of Buchanan never agreed to be a de facto storage facility. This storage will limit redevelopment opportunities for the Indian Point site. The Village of Buchanan and other communities throughout the country should be compensated as the nuclear companies and we appreciate Congressman Lawler's efforts to do so," said Mayor Theresa Knickerbocker of the Village of Buchanan, N.Y.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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