The costs of closing Indian Point continue to burden New Yorkers

One of the many consequences of the leadership of former Governor Andrew Cuomo is the increasing cost and reliability issues of New York’s electric grid. Cuomo pushed for the shutdown of the Indian Point nuclear plant while also implementing the ambitious 2019 “Climate Leadership” law, which mandates a transition to wind and solar energy to meet the state’s power needs.

Governor Hochul has continued to support the climate law, which requires 70% of energy to come from non-carbon sources by 2030 and 100% by 2040. However, the closure of the Indian Point nuclear plant has set back these goals as the plant provided 25% of New York City’s power.

Although the plant’s owners agreed to close voluntarily, Cuomo had been advocating for its closure for years. The shutdown resulted in a significant increase in electric bills, contrary to initial predictions.

As the state’s electricity demand continues to rise due to technological advancements and the push for electric appliances and vehicles, the closure of the Indian Point plant further strained the energy supply. Governor Hochul’s focus on other projects, like the Micron chip factory, has not addressed the issue of meeting the growing electricity demand.

Concerns have been raised about New York’s ability to meet climate change goals, with predictions of more residents and businesses leaving the state due to increasing energy costs. Utility companies have requested rate hikes to fund renewable energy projects and upgrade transmission lines, while the reliability of renewable energy sources poses a risk of blackouts in New York cities.

The shift to electric heat exacerbates the risk of outages, particularly in winter. New Yorkers already face high electric bills, with the situation expected to worsen unless there is a reevaluation of the state’s climate policies.

Unfortunately, even if there is a change in direction, it is unlikely that the Indian Point plant will be reopened.