The New York State Government has entered into an agreement with energy company Entergy to shut down the 2,000MW Indian Point Energy Centre by April 2021.
Located 25 miles north of New York City, the plant has posed several threats to the safety of more than 20 million residents in the area and has proved hazardous for the region’s environmental health.
Entergy has agreed to stop all operations at the plant, closing the facility’s Unit 2 reactor in April 2020 and the Unit 3 reactor in April the year after. These units will close at least 13 years earlier than estimated under the anticipated federal relicensing terms.
Even after the closure, the New York state will continue to monitor the company in order to ensure safety of the residents and eliminate all risks associated with the nuclear facility.
New York's Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said: “For 15 years, I have been deeply concerned by the continuing safety violations at Indian Point, especially given its location in the largest and most densely populated metropolitan region in the country.
“I am proud to have secured this agreement with Entergy to responsibly close the facility 14 years ahead of schedule to protect the safety of all New Yorkers.
“This administration has been aggressively pursuing and incentivising the development of clean, reliable energy and the state is fully prepared to replace the power generated by the plant at a negligible cost to ratepayers.”
The Indian Point plant has had a number of safety and operational issues, which include numerous leaks, faulty bolts, and fires. The densely populated location of the plant does not allow sufficient evacuation routes in case of a disaster.
For environmental and community benefits, Entergy will offer $15m in funding, while the government will provide the employees of the plant with relocation and other job opportunities within the state.
