DOE secretary and New York congressman call for reopening of Indian Point

Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright joined U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler (R., N.Y.) at the site of the closed Indian Point nuclear power plant on Friday, March 6, as Lawler called for the reopening of the facility. He emphasized that the shutdown of the plant in 2021 has led to higher electricity costs for the people of New York state and increased strain on the state's electric grid.

Indian Point, located in Buchanan, N.Y., once generated approximately one-quarter of the New York City region's electric power. The original Unit 1 (commissioned in 1962) was shut down in 1974 as two newer units came on line: Unit 2 in 1974 and Unit 3 in 1976. Unit 2 was shut down in April 2020, followed by Unit 3 in April 2021.

The power plant was closed in part because of the environmental and safety concerns of then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The plant's owner-operator, Entergy, reached a settlement agreement with the state in 2017 to shut down the two remaining reactors ahead of schedule.

Consequences of early shutdown: Since the closure of Indian Point, there has a growing realization in New York state of the negative consequences of the plant's premature shutdown, along with calls from some to restart the plant and build new reactors. A 2022 report by the New York Independent System Operator indicated that the shutdown of Unit 2 and Unit 3 caused downstate New York to become nearly totally dependent on fossil fuels for electricity generation. Furthermore, according to that report, the state will probably not be able to reach its net-zero energy goals without more energy generation from nuclear power.

Speaking at the March 6 event with Wright, Lawler highlighted energy costs: "New Yorkers are now paying nearly 60 percent more for electricity than the national average, and prices have risen dramatically over the past several years. You cannot shut down nuclear plants, block natural gas pipelines, and impose costly mandates, and then act surprised when families are hit with some of the highest utility bills in America. I want to thank Secretary Chris Wright for being here today and for his leadership on strengthening America's energy security."

Lawler added, "I'm calling for the rebuilding and reopening of Indian Point Energy Center and for an all-of-the-above energy strategy. That means supporting nuclear energy, approving critical infrastructure like natural gas pipelines, and ensuring communities like Buchanan are not left behind after decades of helping power our state."

Lawler also mentioned the Economic Recovery for Nuclear-Affected Communities Act, which he introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives "to assist communities affected by stranded nuclear waste, and for other purposes." The act would provide economic relief for communities in which nuclear power plants have closed (such as Lawler's home district), leaving lost jobs, depleted tax revenues, and spent nuclear fuel behind.

Expanding reliable energy: Wright supported Lawler's call to reopen Indian Point. He said, "Across the Northeast, including in New York, Americans are paying some of the highest electricity prices in the country because political leaders blocked critical infrastructure and prematurely shut down power plants that deliver affordable, abundant power. These actions have driven up electricity costs for millions of Americans. The Trump administration believes energy policy should focus on the American people-not politics-by expanding reliable American energy, creating more American jobs, and lowering electricity prices for every American family and business across the country."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has recently made moves to boost nuclear power in the state. Her Nuclear Reliability Backbone initiative directs state agencies "to establish a clear pathway for additional advanced nuclear generation to support grid reliability" and "to consider, review, and facilitate a cost-effective pathway to 4 gigawatts of new nuclear energy that will combine with existing nuclear generation and the NYPA's [New York Power Authority's] previously announced 1 gigawatt project."