Bernie Sanders: Close Indian Point

Sen. Bernie Sanders has joined the opposition to Indian Point.

Sanders issued the statement Monday, according to news reports.

"It makes no sense to me to continue to operate a decaying nuclear reactor within 25 miles of New York City where nearly 10 million people live," said the presidential candidate, who has called for a moratorium on nuclear power plant license renewals in the United States.

"Even in a perfect world where energy companies didn't make mistakes, nuclear power is and always has been a dangerous idea because there is no good way to store nuclear waste. That is why the United States must lead the world in transforming our energy system away from nuclear power and fossil fuels."

In response to Sanders, former Democratic Assemblyman Jerry Kremer of the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance issued a statement:

Senator Sanders is wrong on the facts and wrong about Indian Point. Over 1,000 men and women at Indian Point work hard to ensure the safe operation of that plant every day. For many years Indian Point has safely produced electricity for millions of New Yorkers who rely on its power for their day-to-day energy needs.

If Senator Sanders had his way and closed Indian Point, a $1 billion economic engine would be shuttered; our carbon emissions would spike; and hard-working New Yorkers would pay a lot more for electricity. That’s why a broad array of New York labor, business and community groups support the continued operation of Indian Point.

Presidential politics has gotten serious in New York with both Chappaqua resident and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sanders, a Vermont Senator who was born in Brooklyn, making campaign stops in the Empire State.

The Democratic and Republican primaries are April 19.