COMMENTS TO THE NYS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

• “There is no information before the PSC that supports the premise that IPEC will actually cease operations in 2015 or that replacement capacity will be needed prior to the summer of 2016. To the contrary, all information available in the public domain, as well as the Entergy parties’ initial submission in this proceeding, demonstrates that IPEC will continue to operate through 2016 and thereafter.The PSC should therefore provide parties a full opportunity to be heard in this matter once a complete contingency plan is submitted, and it should properly comply with all statutory requirements before considering what next steps are needed.” Michael Delaney Esq., Director, Energy Regulatory Affairs, City of New York

• "The City of New York supports the need for planning and preparing for future events, including the eventual closure of IPEC, but it does not support the proposal advanced by Con Edison and the New York Power Authority to begin spending hundreds of millions of dollars of ratepayer moneys to construct facilities that will not be needed in 2016." Michael Delaney Esq., Director, Energy Regulatory Affairs, City of New York

• “If the Commission wants to commit NYPA resources to out of market contracts, why not commit these resources to repower and modernize Western New York Power plants, to maintain and create jobs and rebuild our energy infrastructure? This is a much better use of our resources than examining ways to shut down an emission free power plant and put more than 1,000 people out of work." Senator George D. Maziarz, 62nd District

• “The proposed plan filed by NYPA and Con Ed carries a price tag of $811 million and placed the burden on utility customers to fund its development and implementation. If this plan proceeds, New York ratepayers will be forced to shoulder an exorbitant cost burden for something that will in all likelihood be deemed unnecessary, as Indian Point remains on the path toward license renewal.” Dr. Marsha Gordon, President & CEO, Business Council of Westchester

• “It should be noted by the PSC that the costs associated with the Con Ed-NYPA plan will go well above $811 million, as many jobs and related purchases and tax payments would be lost if Indian Point were to close. A study directed by Mayor Bloomberg found that New Yorkers would pay an additional $10 billion to $12 billion in higher energy costs over the next 30 years if Indian Point is closed.” Jerry Kremer, Chairman, NYAREA

• “In this post-Hurricane Sandy era, the State of New York needs to maintain reliable sources of power while strengthening our energy systems in a way that does not disrupt economic development. This proposed plan does not accomplish any of these objectives and worse yet- it diverts funding needed to strengthen our electric system to minimize the impact of future storms.” Nick Lugo, President, New York Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• “The 2012 New York Independent System Operator Reliability Needs Assessment found that taking Indian Point offline would put constraints on the upstate and downstate interface, and that we would be unable to maintain electricity system reliability at the required level. On the demand side, according to a Marist poll (October 2012), 67 percent of respondents said that the current cost of electricity and heat was a hardship and burdensome for them. A solid plan must be in place before there is even talk about retiring Indian Point and there is no viable option proposed in the contingency plan. One approach to the plan suggests issuing RFP's to solicit third party generation bids, clearly not a concrete solution to replace nearly 2,000 Megawatts of power, enough to power up to 2 million average New York homes.” James Slevin, President, Local 1-2, NY, Utility Workers Union of America AFL-CIO

• “Here in Westchester County we have great potential to become a hub for biotechnology, and we are working hard to make that a reality. Biotechnology companies require an ample supply of reliable, affordable electricity in order to operate. Closing Indian Point, which generates more than 2,000 Megawatts of electricity, would be a big step in the wrong direction. Not only would we lose a critical source of electric power, but we would lose thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenues. In fact, a 2011 study developed by Charles River Associates for the New York City Mayor's office found that New Yorkers would pay $10 billion to $12 billion in higher energy costs over the next 30 years if Indian Point were to shut down.” William M. Mooney Jr., President, Westchester County Association

• “Without public input or consideration of environmental justice issues, the Commission and the permitting bodies cannot properly determine the short-and long-term environmental impacts of the projects proposed in the State Applicant’s plan. We strongly believe that Indian Point’s continued operation is essential to protecting the environment and the lives of individuals who live in designated environmental justice areas. In fact, a study commissioned by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection in 2011 found that any replacement sources for the virtually carbon-free power produced by Indian Point would lead to a 15-percent increase in carbon emissions and a 7 to 8 percent increase in nitrous oxide emissions in both the City and State." Norris McDonald, President, African American Environmentalists Association

• “Businesses in New York already pay among the highest energy costs in the nation. Therefore, the highest levels of scrutiny must be applied in assessing the value of energy projects before passing their costs to ratepayers. The state already has an initiative to facilitate long-term energy reliability: the Energy Highway. Tacking on over $800 million in additional planning costs, for RFP's that address a very uncertain contingency, would only further burden ratepayers without creating any tangible benefit." Al Samuels, President, Rockland County Business Association

View the Indian Point Independent Safety Evaluation, which includes information on Indian Point’s seismic design.