Opposition of Nuclear Power ‘Revival’ in New York Holds its First Forum

This first forum, a webinar on Jan. 15, was titled a “Symposium for Safe and Affordable Energy in New York” as part of a series of “Forums for a Nuclear-Free New York.”

By Karl Grossman, Nation of Change

The first of a series of “Forums for a Nuclear-Free New York” was held last week following New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s proposition for an expansion of nuclear power in New York State. Earlier in the week she called in a “State of the State” address for an additional four gigawatts of nuclear power in New York, the energy generation equivalent of four large nuclear power plants.

This continued Hochul’s nuclear drive through 2025 pushing for the state to become the center of a nuclear power “revival” in the United States and then proposing one gigawatt of new nuclear power in New York.

This first forum, a webinar on Jan. 15, was titled a “Symposium for Safe and Affordable Energy in New York.” It was organized by a coalition of safe-energy and environmental organizations and moderated by Alec Baldwin, actor and nuclear power opponent. It featured Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and director of its Atmosphere/Energy Program, and Joseph Mangano, executive director of the Radiation and Public Health Project.

“We are at a crossroads in New York,” said Baldwin. “The state is leading a multi-state consortium that seeks to rapidly expand nuclear power. In her ‘State of the State’ address this week, Governor Hochul announced plans to build another four gigawatts of new nuclear in New York, in addition to the one gigawatt of previously announced new projects plus 3.4 gigawatts of existing nuclear. That would bring total nuclear generation in New York to 8.4 gigawatts, increasing it by 2.5 times.”

Baldwin continued, “Governor Hochul also arranged a $33 billion ratepayer subsidy to keep four aging reactors in upstate New York operating for another 20 years, including the oldest and second oldest reactors in the U.S.”