Why is Indian Point right for New York

You have a right to know the facts about why Indian Point is right for New York.

Select a category below to find out why Indian Point is the right choice for New York.

• Environment

  Indian Point produces over 2,000 megawatts of electricity daily and emits virtually no greenhouse gases – that’s enough pollution-free electricity to power 2 million homes. Replacing the power that Indian Point provides for New York City and Westchester with natural gas plants would emit millions of tons of pollutants a year into the air we breathe.

• Air Quality

  Indian Point produces over 2,000 megawatts of clean, reliable power with virtually no greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, at lower cost then other power plants in the region. That’s about 25 percent of New York City and Westchester's power.

  In comparison to Indian Point’s nearly zero greenhouse gas emissions, an equivalent gas power plant emits approximately 8.5 million tons of air pollution per year. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions globally is the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas in power plants, automobiles, industrial facilities and other sources. Replacing Indian Point with plants powered by fossil fuels would increase:

  • Air pollution by millions of tons per year
  • Particulate matter by more than 1,900 tons per year
  • Carbon monoxide by more than 1,100 tons per year

  Nuclear energy plays a vital role in providing clean power without contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, in the U.S., nuclear power avoids approximately:

  • 689 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year
  • 1 million tons of nitrogen oxide
  • 3 million tons of sulfur dioxide per year
    *Source: NEI Website
• Safety

  Indian Point was designed and built with high levels of safety precautions and the company is continually adding new layers to enhance its safety. Over a billion dollars has been invested to upgrade and strengthen these plants in recent years. We have layer upon layer of safety systems, so there are back-ups to the back-ups. And we plan and train every day to expect the unexpected.

• Security

  Indian Point has highly restricted access that is controlled by state-of-the-art security systems. The plants and property are protected by a rigorously trained security force, multiple vehicle barriers, double fencing with razor wire, television surveillance and additional high tech security devices.

• Regulatory Oversight

  Indian Point has multiple independent federal inspectors from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on site overseeing the plant’s safe operations. In fact, the law guarantees these inspectors access to any document, any employee or any portion of the facility. That’s accountability in action, every day, all the time.

• Reliability

  Indian Point provides clean, reliable electricity to millions of homes and businesses. About a quarter of the electricity in New York City and Westchester is generated by Indian Point. New York Independent System Operator has said that shutting down Indian Point without replacing the electricity it generates would lead to rolling blackouts throughout the area.

• Lower-Cost Power

  Indian Point provides electricity at lower costs than other power sources. According to independent sources including Con Ed, electric rates would be much higher without Indian Point’s lower cost power. Nuclear energy is a price-stable energy source – it does not fluctuate like natural gas or other fossil fuels. Since it is produced within the region where the power is consumed, nuclear energy is not affected by international pressures. All of this means you are guaranteed a lower-cost solution by relying on the power produced at Indian Point.

• Local Economy

  Indian Point contributes $75 million in payments to state and local governments. Closing the site would mean municipalities, schools and services that depend upon the tax revenue would see a dramatic decrease in their tax collections, which would have to be compensated for in other ways.

• Jobs

  Indian Point employs approximately 1,100 workers and 200 on-site contractors – the annual economic impact of that payroll combined with local purchases is $356 million.

• Commitment to Community

  Indian Point and its employees contribute $1.5 million in charitable contributions annually.