A group of clean energy supporters and environmentalist are calling on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to replace power from the Indian Point nuclear power plant with clean energy resources, with a focus on offshore wind power.
In a letter to the governor, the groups wrote that while closing Indian Point will reduce risks to public safety and protect surrounding ecosystems along the Hudson River, replacing that power generation with fossil fuels will simply shift public health and environmental threats to other areas of the state.
They argued that offshore wind resources are the logical solution to the demand for large-scale clean energy installations in the New York City metropolitan area and could be online and operating by 2020 at the latest, with some certainly online by 2017-2018.
‘We need Gov. Cuomo's leadership to ensure that closing Indian Point becomes an opportunity to advance the development of clean, renewable energy in New York state," notes Carol E. Murphy, executive director of the Alliance for Clean Energy New York.
"The level of economic impact that offshore wind has to offer far exceeds that of conventional generation resources, and when combined with the environmental benefits of having an emissions-free resource, offshore wind is the best option for meeting New York City's growing energy needs and replacing power from Indian Point should it close in the near future," she adds. "Combining offshore wind energy with onshore wind energy, solar power and energy efficiency is a win-win for the economy and the environment of New York state.
The groups endorsing the letter included the Alliance for Clean Energy New York, the American Lung Association in New York, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Citizens' Environmental Coalition, Environmental Advocates of New York, Harness the Hudson, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Morningside Heights/West Harlem Sanitation Coalition, the National Wildlife Federation, the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, New York Interfaith Power & Light, the New York League of Conservation Voters, New York Public Interest Research Group, Renewable Energy Long Island, Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign and the Vote Solar Initiative.
