Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright called for Indian Point Energy Center, located in Buchanan, N.Y. to be “rebuilt and reopened” to bring down New York’s energy costs.
“New Yorkers are now paying nearly 60 percent more for electricity than the national average, and prices have risen dramatically over the past several years,” Lawler said in a March 6 press release. “You cannot shut down nuclear plants, block natural gas pipelines, and impose costly mandates, and then act surprised when families are hit with some of the highest utility bills in America.”
Indian Point was a three-unit nuclear power plant that had a generating capacity of over 2,000 megawatts. The plant collectively closed down after Unit 3 ceased operations a year after Unit 2 did. It generated around 25% of New York City’s electricity.
Lawler, whose district includes the shuttered power plant, wants an inclusive energy strategy embracing nuclear power, renewable energy and natural gas infrastructure, according to the release.
Wright visited the closed Indian Point reactor site on March 6 and backed Lawler’s call for the reopening of it.
“Across the Northeast, including in New York, Americans are paying some of the highest electricity prices in the country because political leaders blocked critical infrastructure and prematurely shut down power plants that deliver affordable, abundant power,” said Wright. “These actions have driven up electricity costs for millions of Americans.”
Along with pushing for the restoration of Indian Point, Lawler also introduced legislation in Congress that is focused on delivering direct economic relief for communities affected by the loss of a local nuclear power plant and nuclear waste contained onsite.
The Economic Recovery for Nuclear-Affected Communities Act, which was introduced March 4, looks to provide financial assistance to these affected communities, introduce a tax credit for homebuyers to bring new businesses and residents to the area and establish compensation for proposals aimed at redeveloping the former nuclear sites, according to Lawler’s press release on the bill.
“By providing direct financial assistance and incentives for redevelopment, this legislation helps these communities rebuild local economies that attract new residents and businesses,” Lawler said. “It ensures that these communities are not left behind to struggle with the burden of nuclear waste storage.”
The closure of Indian Point was spearheaded by former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) in 2017, during a time nuclear plants were facing economic pressure from electricity from low-cost natural gas. Current Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) supports nuclear power as she recently called for the state to add 5,000 megawatts of new nuclear. However, according to a local New York news outlet’s October 2025 article, it reported that Hochul has no interest in restarting Indian Point.
Hochul has instead announced plans to build a new nuclear plant in Upstate New York.