Climate change is a major topic that every country needs to consider and New York is taking action by shutting down its Indian Point nuclear power plant. The state will turn its attention to green energy instead by relying on windmills to generate energy. The announcement was made on Monday by the New York City's governor, Andrew M. Cuomo.
New York has come up with an agreement with the nuke's operator, Entergy, to close down the plant by April 2021. During his state address in Lower Manhattan, he described the agreement as a hard bargain to 'eliminate' the region of a living time bomb not more than 30 miles from the Midtown. He added that the state will not shoulder costs in the closing down or withdraw of Indian Point's two operating nuclear reactors, The New York Times reported.
"I have personally been trying to close it down for 15 years," said Gov. Cuomo, a Democrat. He added that the proposed closing "eliminates a major risk, provides welcome relief, and New Yorkers can sleep a little better."
An Entergy executive mentioned that the energy company had financial considerations in making the decisions. Nonetheless, other company officials and energy specialists deliberate on how the state will substitute Indian Point's 2,000 megawatts capacity or almost one-fourth of the energy use up by Westchester County and New York City.
According to Forbes, Indian Point generates sufficient energy to run 3 million Teslas which is 30 times more vehicles than Tesla itself has manufactured. The nuclear plant is base load meaning that the procurable kilowatt-hours are always ready day and night every day despite the changes in nature.
Based on the New York State grid operator record, the 'nameplate' scope of the entire state's wind turbines in sync is almost exact as the Indian Point. However, the said nuclear plant is, in fact, generating electricity four times every year.
Indian Point is a nuclear power plant situated in Buchanan, New York south of Peekskill consisting of three units. It lies on the east of Hudson River which is 36 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. It produces more than 2,000 megawatts (MWe) of electrical power.
