Letter to the Editor: African American Environmentalist Association Supports Indian Point’s Clean Air Benefits

To the Editor:

Ahead of the New York State Court of Appeals’ October 19 hearing of oral arguments pertaining to Indian Point Energy Center’s exemption in the Coastal Management Program, the African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA) reiterates its concerns that closing Indian Point’s nuclear power plants will likely increase chronic respiratory illnesses occurring in communities of color. The AAEA filed an amicus curiae brief earlier this summer in support of the relicensing of Indian Point for this reason. The brief was filed on behalf of those organizations by attorney Renee Bea, from Singer / Bea, LLC, based in San Francisco.

Keeping Indian Point open would lessen the risk of communities of color in New York City being exposed to increased levels of pollution. Already, 70 percent of African Americans live within 30 miles of a coal-fired power plant, according to respected civil rights groups, and if we shut down clean electricity providers like Indian Point, that number could grow.

The nuclear power plants at Indian Point are carbon-free sources of electricity generation. If closed, New York City would lose approximately 25 percent of its power and would likely have to rely on fossil fuel-driven power plants to meet New York State’s mandatory reliability standard, resulting in increased emissions rates. The EPA has indicated that in New York, ethnic minorities make up a substantial portion of the population residing within three miles of power plants. Since communities of color disproportionately live in proximity to districts zoned for heavy industry, they are therefore more likely to suffer the majority of the health consequences resulting from increased air pollution caused by elevated emissions.

A report published by the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene states that minority neighborhoods in the Bronx, Harlem and Brooklyn have much higher rates of childhood asthma (a 20 percent to 30 percent prevalence) than primarily white neighborhoods (as low as 4 percent prevalence). Further research has shown that asthma in children can also lead to other long-term health consequences – including a heightened chance of obesity (19 to 20 percent in minority neighborhoods) – and can double the chance of developing depression and anxiety disorders. Given the significant risks associated with exposure to degraded air quality, it is important that clean power sources like Indian Point remain open.

The African American Environmentalist Association filed the amicus curiae brief to warn the state of the negative consequences that would ensue if New York is forced to increase its dependence on fossil fuels. We urge New York State to help keep our families healthy by avoiding increased air pollution in our communities.

Norris McDonald

President of the African American Environmentalist Association

About the African American Environmentalist Association

The AAEA was founded by Norris McDonald in 1985. It is the oldest African American-led environmental organizations in the country. Headquartered in Washington D.C., the AAEA has 12 chapters, including two located in Nigeria and Kenya. The AAEA has been a longtime advocate of environmental justice, including the reduction of air pollution and promotion of public health in low-income and minority communities. In recent years, the AAEA has engaged in a range of community outreach projects intended to educate the public regarding the prevalence of environmental hazards in minority communities.