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Letter to the Editor: What New York Needs to Do to Avoid Environmental Problems

To the Editor:

By Richard Thomas

What compelling, common lesson can Germany, Japan, and California teach New York about environmental stewardship?

Over the past year each has seen dramatic, well-documented, increases in carbon and other toxic pollution because they closed virtually non-emitting nuclear power plants.

This is important for New Yorkers to take to heart given the continuing determination of anti-nuclear activists and some state officials to close Indian Point. In fact, there has already been a disturbing foreshadowing of the added pollution New Yorkers will have, if clean power from Indian Point is forced to no longer be available.

First, though let us examine what has already transpired.

California – The January 2012 closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which provided 10 percent of the state’s electricity, has increased carbon emissions in the state by at least 8.8 million tons annually according to the California-based think tank, The Breakthrough Institute. This is the equivalent of putting two million additional cars on the road.


Germany – This industrial powerhouse’s 2011 decision to phase out operation of its nuclear plants by 2023 has led to a spike in pollution, a boom in the construction of new coal plants and coal mining.

Spiegel International reported on January 7 that in 2013 CO2-polluting lignite coal plants produced 162 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, according to AG Energiebilanzen, a collection of industry associations and research institutes. This is the most since 1990.

The World Nuclear Association earlier this month reported that the cost of attempting to replace nuclear power with renewables is estimated by the German government to amount to one trillion euros, without any assurance of a reliable outcome.

Japan – The shutdown of all Japanese nuclear power plants following Fukushima and their slow return to production has increased Japan’s dependence on oil. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on October 29, 2013 that, “Demand for low-sulfur fuel oil and direct use of crude oil rose substantially in 2012 as these fuels replaced nuclear electric power generation and supported the post-disaster reconstruction works.”

EIA also noted the impact on the environment was dramatic, “Before nuclear power was removed, the intensity of Japan's CO2 emissions (emission per unit of electricity consumption) decreased by about 16% from 1990 levels. In 2012, CO2 emissions intensity increased by 14% from 1990 levels.”


A Warning for New York

With much of New York already violating federal clean air standards, the state must avoid policies that take us backward, especially as far back as 1990.

New York’s six nuclear reactors, which have near zero carbon and other toxic emissions, are critically important for the environment. They supply 30 percent of the state’s electricity. Indian Point alone provides 11 percent and 30 percent of the electricity used in New York City on a typical day.

As in the real world experience of Germany, Japan and California, it is highly impractical to replace the brunt of Indian Point’s power with solar or wind. A solar power equivalent would require massive amounts of land – more than 70 square miles or three times the size of Manhattan. For wind it is more than 500 square miles or 21 times the size of Manhattan.

Coal power would also likely increase in New York’s electricity portfolio if there is a reduction in nuclear power.

The Hudson Transmission Project, which began bringing power from New Jersey to Manhattan last year, uses electricity from states that have much higher percentages of coal than does New York. Recent spikes in power demand and concern about market pricing are also leading the New York Public Service Commission to consider extending the life of the Danskammer coal plant, which it once pushed to close.

With a reduction in nuclear power that push would become even greater.

Longer-term, keeping New York’s six nuclear power plants and possibly adding to them will play a central role in making sure New York minimizes emissions and maintains the country’s lowest CO2 emissions per capita.

Noteworthy Positive Developments

Despite the major environmental backsliding in Germany, Japan, and California as they have reduced the use of nuclear power, there are encouraging developments in the past year.

A growing number of prominent environmentalists are embracing and even championing nuclear power. The critically acclaimed documentary Pandora’s Promise examined why several notable environmental leaders’ who once opposed nuclear power now support it based on its safety record and integral role for curtailing global warming.

On November 3, prominent climate and energy scientists including Dr. James Hansen issued an open letter discussing the essential role nuclear power plays to address climate change, saying, “While it may be theoretically possible to stabilize the climate without nuclear power, in the real world there is no credible path to climate stabilization that does not include a substantial role for nuclear power.”

With Earth Day [upon us], New York policy makers should take these issues to heart. To avoid doing harm and to address climate change and other environmental challenges New York needs to keep all its nuclear plants and consider adding to them.

This information can be found at http://area-alliance.org/index.php/resources/issue-briefs/a-major-environmental-mistake-new-york-must-avoid/

About the Author: Richard Thomas is Director with the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (New York AREA) a diverse group of more than 150 business, labor, and community groups whose mission and purpose is to ensure that New York has an ample and reliable electricity supply that will help ensure prosperity.  Entergy, owner of Indian Point, is a member of New York AREA.


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