Abinanti Once Again Calls for the Closure of Indian Point

“How many accidents must occur before we admit that keeping a nuclear power plant in a densely populated region is a disaster-in-waiting?” said Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) today as he reiterated his call to shut down the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant in Buchanan.

Abinanti’s call comes after one of the plant’s transformers caught on fire which led to thousands of gallons of oil leaking into the Hudson River.

“This weekend’s transformer fire and subsequent oil spill shows us once again why it would be a mistake for the NRC to renew Indian Point’s expired operating license,” said Abinanti, whose suburban district is only 15 miles from Indian Point.

Abinanti has long been a proponent of shutting down the seismically at-risk Indian Point facility. A 2008 Columbia University study showed the facility sits on two active seismic zones capable of producing up to a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

“Every day, the risks get greater that this old plant will leave Westchester County a contaminated wasteland that we can’t return to,” said the Westchester Assemblyman. “Not only is the plant 26 miles from New York City’s 8 million people but it’s in the midst of 4 counties with 1.75 million residents and billions of dollars of business.”

“It’s like an old car ready to fall apart. Somewhere along the way, you have to say, ‘the risk is too great,” said Abinanti.