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Entergy: Forced Outages At Westchester's Indian Point A 'Terrible Idea'

CORTLANDT MANOR, N.Y. -- An Entergy official has criticized a proposal to require permanent, simultaneous annual outages at both Indian Point units.

Fred Dacimo, vice president of license renewal for Entergy Nuclear Operations, spoke at a public hearing relating to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation staff’s proposal.

The proposal seeks to require permanent, simultaneous outages at Indian Point units annually for 42, 62 or 92 days, or a combination of a cooling tower at one unit and permanent outages at the other unit.

Calling the DEC staff’s proposal “a terrible idea for Indian Point, New Yorkers, and our environment,” Dacimo’s testimony contended that forced outages are not grounded in science, run contrary to DEC practice, and ignore a proven smarter solution that will resolve concerns about Indian Point’s aquatic impacts.

“Forcing Indian Point to shut down every summer – which is not even a technology at all – poses serious consequences to human health and safety, the New York economy, and the local environment while failing to guarantee any measurable benefit to an already healthy fish population.” Dacimo said.

Noting that Indian Point right now is fully protective of the Hudson River ecosystem and operates in accordance with its state and federal permits, Dacimo illustrated the numerous implications of the unnecessary forced summertime outages: more pollution resulting from the need to replace Indian Point’s emissions-free energy with fossil fuels; more expensive power, as Indian Point’s lower cost power is taken off the market; and an increased chance of brownouts or even blackouts if Indian Point were turned off when demand is highest.

Entergy is currently seeking a 20-year license renewal for Indian Point.

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