Indian Point Nuclear Plant permanently shut down Reactor 2 on April 30, 2020, with Reactor 3 to follow next year. (Reactor 1 was shut down in 1974 because the emergency core cooling system did not meet regulatory requirements.)  

Indian Point's Reactor 2 shutdown is an historic moment. Environmental and grassroots groups in New York and across the country have long fought to shut down Indian Point given the dangers it poses to the public and the lack of solutions for highly radioactive nuclear waste. Environmental groups - together as part of the recently launched Beyond Indian Point campaign - are emphasizing the fact that renewable energy and energy efficiency  are replacing the energy from Indian Point. To read the most recent report about this issue click here.

But supporters of nuclear power are using the shutdown to spread fear about phasing out nuclear power across the country. They are also using concerns about the pandemic to spread completely unfounded fear about blackouts in New York, tapping into public anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no shortage of electricity. Theirs is a cynical ploy to garner support for a dirty and dangerous energy source.

What are the next steps?

It’s time to support New Yorkers in their victory against nuclear power. We need to meet the nuclear industry's cynicism with a strengthened commitment to phase out nuclear energy across the country—and that starts in New York.  Sign this petition supporting the closure of Indian Point nuclear plant and the transition to 100% renewable energy in New York.

After you sign the petition, you’ll be invited to an online forum (via Zoom) about the closure of Indian Point. The forum will be held on Wednesday, May 6 at 4PM ET. We hope you’ll decide to sign up for that, too!

If you can't make it to the online forum, an excellent primer is the interview about the Beyond Indian Point campaign, the campaign unifying the anti-fracking and anti-nuclear movements in the transition to 100% clean, renewable, safe, and sustainable energy.

We also encourage you to ask your NYS legislators to support the legislation to create an individual Decommissioning Oversight Board (DOB) for each NY nuclear plant at the time it announces its closure. The legislation has already been proposed in the NY Senate and NY Assembly [S8154/A10236]. Please call your NYS Assemblymember and your NYS Senator to ask that they support Bills S8154/A10236. Tell our legislators that New York needs Decommissioning Oversight Boards to protect the best interests of our state and our communities! 

Thank you for your help. We hope you and your family and community are safe and have the resources you need. Please contact us if you have concerns. We are here for you.

Wishing you all the best,

Andra Leimanis
Communications & Outreach Director at Alliance for a Green Economy