FROM: RIVERKEEPER
Contact: Lisa Rainwater, Riverkeeper
914-478-4501 x. 221

For Immediate Release
6-6-2006

THE VERDICT IS IN: INDIAN POINT’S POWER NOT NEEDED
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National Academy of Sciences Report Concludes Indian Point’s Power is Replaceable

(Tarrytown, NY) Today, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released its long-anticipated study, “Alternatives to the Indian Point Energy Center for Meeting New York Electrical Power Needs.” Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) secured funding for the study, which confirms that the 2000 megawatts of electricity generated by Indian Point are replaceable, and that New York has a ready supply of alternative energy sources at its disposal to secure energy reliability without Indian Point in the energy pool. At a press conference held today at Pace Law School in White Plains, New York, Congresswoman Lowey reaffirmed her commitment to working for the shutdown and decommissioning of Indian Point. “I’m pleased to announce today that this authoritative study is complete and the bottom line is this: we can meet the region’s increasing energy demands without Indian Point. Through conservation and efficiency, modest new generation, and transmission improvements, we can replace the power produced by Indian Point and finally close this facility without the lights going off and without dramatic price increases“, said Lowey.

The following are statements by Alex Matthiessen, Hudson Riverkeeper and President, and Lisa Rainwater, Riverkeeper’s Indian Point Campaign Director:

“Riverkeeper commends Congresswoman Nita Lowey for securing the funding for this study and the National Academy of Sciences committee for producing and in-depth analysis of the energy issues facing the New York metropolitan region,” said Alex Matthiessen, President of Riverkeeper. “The NAS study puts to rest any further discussions regarding the importance of Indian Point’s power to the region and to New York City. Over the last four years, studies by Pace Energy Project, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Riverkeeper, Charles Komanoff, Synapse, and Levitan and Associates all concluded that the region could do without the power – the NAS study is the final and definitive answer to the debate. Let’s move on in order to assure that the appropriate processes are set in motion to bring about a prompt and orderly decommissioning of both reactors,” Matthiessen noted.

“Since we launched this campaign in 2001, the public has continually understood that Indian Point poses a grave threat to the region due to an abysmal safety record and lax security measures,” continued Lisa Rainwater, Indian Point Campaign Director. “The only issue Entergy could use to confuse the public was the energy issue – and now that confusion is over. The verdict is in, and the jury has ruled in our favor: we don’t need Indian Point to keep our lights on, to power our computers, or to charge our cell phones. Other sources of power exist, it’s simply a matter of political will to ensure that those sources come online in a timely fashion,” Rainwater concluded.
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About Riverkeeper
Riverkeeper is a member-supported, not-for-profit environmental organization dedicated to safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Hudson River and the watershed areas that provide drinking water to New York City and parts of four upstate counties by tracking down and stopping polluters. Since 1983, Riverkeeper has investigated and brought to justice over 300 environmental lawbreakers. For more information, please visit www.riverkeeper.org.