Entergy Responds to Cuomo's Order to Probe Indian Point

Yesterday Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed State Department of Public Service CEO Audrey Zibelman to immediately begin an investigation of the operations and safety protocols at Indian Point Nuclear Facility.

In particular he said he wants the plant’s budget scrutinized, its effect on outages analysed, and the effect of the outages on the safe operation of the plant.

Entergy officials released this statement in response:

NRC inspectors – with their special expertise in nuclear safety -- spend thousands of hours at Indian Point each year reviewing operations, and have stated the plant is safe. Indian Point is a safely operated facility and a vital piece of NY’s energy infrastructure, generating about 25% of the power consumed annually in NYC and Westchester County. Entergy is aware of the letter to the NY PSC and will review it.

Cuomo’s letter directing Zibelman to begin her investigation can be viewed here.

Cuomo, who has a home in Westchester County, has wanted to close Indian Point for years. His administration is on record with the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission opposing the renewal of the plant’s licenses for Units 2 and 3.

He has also expressed anger at the plant’s owner for deciding to close its nuclear power plant near Oswego. Cuomo wants to keep that reactor open.