Indian Point Community Collects Signatures on Unity Petition

CORTLANDT, NY — The Town of Cortlandt and the other stakeholders affected by the Indian Point nuclear power plants closure have circulated a Community Unity Petition around town. So far it has collected more than 500 signatures.

Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi said the petition and a letter was sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo as well as to other elected officials including NYS Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, NYS Senator Terrence Murphy, US Senator Senator Chuck Schumer, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

Entergy's decision to close the nuclear power plants by 2021 was primarily a business decision, the company said when the announcement was made Jan. 9. As part of the deal, the state and Riverkeeper agreed to withdraw all their legal filings.

Community officials with the petition and cover letter, community officials again asked for state assistance with tax stabilization, job loss and environmental issues connected to the closing. Currently, 46 percent of the village of Buchanan's tax revenues come from Entergy. One-third of the annual revenue of the Hendrick Hudson School district comes from Entergy.

Cuomo has created a task force to help the village, school district and town cope with the loss of a large percentage of their annual operating revenues, to talk about mitigating the impact of 1,000 lost jobs, to address the issue of stored spent fuel rods at the site, and other topics.

The state task force is meant also to ensure compliance with the agreement between the plant's owner, Entergy, the state, and environmental watchdog group Riverkeeper.

Local officials also created a Community Task Force. It held its first meeting Feb. 16. The next day, representatives of several state agencies named to the State Task Force met with local officials.

ALSO SEE:

• Entergy Confirms Indian Point Nuclear Plant Will Close
  
• Indian Point Closing Will Have 'Catastrophic' Effect
  
• Shock, then Plan: Local Officials on Indian Point Report
• New Indian Point Task Force to Handle Closure Issues
  
• Indian Point Suit 'Dead in the Water' Says Westchester Legislative Chairman
  
• The Safety of Indian Point After it Closes