Entergy Seeks 20-Year Licence Extensions For Indian Point

Mr Kansler told a press conference this week that the plant was vitally important to the economic and environmental health of the north-eastern US. He said the plant’s two operational pressurised water reactor units, Indian Point-2 and -3, generate more than 2,000 megawatts (two million kilowatts) of “clean and affordable” power, enough to meet between 18 and 38% of the lower Hudson Valley’s and New York City’s electricity needs on any given day.

The units’ operating licences are currently scheduled to expire in 2013 and 2015. The proposed renewals would allow them to continue operating until 2033 and 2035.

Mr Kansler said the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would evaluate the company’s request, a process that he promised would amount to “a rigorous top to bottom review of Indian Point based on an exhaustive examination of the facts.

Mr Kansler was joined at the press conference by Patrick Moore, co-founder and former leader of the environmental organisation Greenpeace. Dr Moore said he now views nuclear energy as an important ally in the effort to halt global warming.

Indian Point-2 and -3 entered commercial operation in August 1974 and August 1976 respectively. Indian Point-1 has been shut down and in safe storage since the early 1970s.

Entergy Nuclear is the second-largest nuclear power operator in the US with annual revenues of more than 10 billion US dollars (7.7 billion euros).

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

US Indian Point-3 Uprate Approved (News in Brief No. 34, 30 March 2005)

Report Warns Of Obstacles To Replacing New York’s Indian Point (World Nuclear Review No. 24, 16 June 2006)

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