Karl Herchenroeder
RW Monitor
2/5/2016
New York lawmakers have initiated another effort to save the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant, despite power provider Entergy’s insistence that the facility will close in early 2017 or sooner.
New York state Assemblyman Will Barclay (R), whose district includes the facility, recently introduced two bills meant to incentivize operation at the plant: one that would provide a temporary tax credit for FitzPatrick and another that would expand New York’s renewable energy portfolio to include nuclear power. The latter would make nuclear plants eligible for the same benefits available to solar and wind sources through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a CO2 cap-and-trade program organized between nine northeastern states. State Sen. Patty Ritchie (R) has voiced support for both bills.
“This legislation would put nuclear power on par with other zero-carbon power producers,” Barclay said in a statement last week. “Nuclear power is a clean, efficient, and reliable energy resource for New York State. It is time for New York State to recognize the importance of nuclear power and support the industry like it does with other zero-carbon power producers. My legislation accomplishes this and also will go a long way towards keeping the FitzPatrick Nuclear plant operational.”
Entergy representatives could not be reached for comment, but the company has repeatedly said it has explored every legitimate commercial arrangement for sustaining the site, and there is no viable alternative left to consider.
Citing natural gas prices, increased operational costs, and a poor market design, Entergy in November announced formal plans to close the plant this year or in early 2017. Entergy says the shutdown would save the company up to $275 million through 2020.
The Barclay announcement noted that upstate New York’s nuclear power facilities account for 25,000 full-time jobs, and estimated that without them New York consumers will pay $15 billion more on electricity over the next decade. FitzPatrick is one of three nuclear plants in Oswego County, which represents half of New York’s nuclear portfolio. According to the release, Oswego County produces 30 percent of the state’s energy. Last fall, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the state would develop a new Clean Energy Standard, under which 50 percent of all New York electricity would come from clean and renewable sources by 2030. One aim of the plan is to prevent “the premature retirement of safe, upstate nuclear power plants,” according to the Governor’s Office, which did not cite FitzPatrick directly in the new plan.
