Citizens
Awareness Network
For Immediate
Release:
Contact:
Tim Judson - Citizens Awareness Network (Central NY
Chapter): 315-422-4924
Kyle Rabin - Environmental Advocates: 518-462-5526 ext.
238
Ed Smeloff – Pace Energy Project: 914-422-4221
Today, Citizens Awareness Network, Environmental Advocates, and the Pace
Energy Project called on Governor Pataki
and the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) to halt the sale of the
Nine Mile Point reactors, located near Oswego.
The three groups jointly petitioned the PSC to dismiss Niagara
Mohawk Power Corporation (NiMo) and the New York State Electric and Gas
Corporation’s (NYSEG) petition for the transfer of ownership of the Nine Mile 1
and 2 nuclear plants. The groups, who have been active participants in the
proceeding evaluating the proposed sale of the Nine Mile units, were responding
to the PSC’s request for responses to NYSEG’s Motion to Dismiss. The three groups are also advocating that
the PSC reconvene its collaborative generic proceeding on nuclear issues in
which the agency sought input on whether it
is in the public interest for nuclear power to compete in the deregulated
energy market.
In
a February 2, 2000 letter, over 40 groups – including Environmental Advocates,
the Pace Energy Project, and Natural Resources Defense Council – alerted
Governor George Pataki that state nuclear policy is in disarray. The PSC initiated a generic proceeding at
the beginning of 1999 concerning nuclear generation in a competitive
market. The intent of that proceeding
was to investigate issues including the maintenance of nuclear safety in a
competitive environment, the mitigation of nuclear stranded costs, the
assurance that plants would have sufficient funding for decommissioning and
fuel diversity and environmental concerns.
The
generic proceeding on nuclear issues was suspended when NiMo and NYSEG announced
in June 1999 their intention to sell their ownership shares in the Nine Mile
Point 1 and 2 power plants. That sale
was challenged by Rochester Gas and Electric which stated it intended to
exercise a “right of first refusal” to gain ownership of those plants. Subsequently, the PSC Staff interrupted the proceeding to
renegotiate some terms of the deal, and the proceeding has since stalled.
“What
we have here is a nuclear power policy meltdown,” said Kyle Rabin, air and
energy program associate for Environmental Advocates. “The manner in which the
Public Service Commission has dealt with nuclear energy policy under
deregulation is cause for much concern.
The agency has managed to spend taxpayer dollars and the public’s
valuable time, while ignoring issues central to the public interest,”
said Rabin.
Citizens
Awareness Network, Environmental Advocates, and The Pace Energy Project are
seeking to prevent the sale of New York's
nuclear plants until state regulators and nuclear operators can guarantee that
ratepayers and the public health and safety will be protected, and until
policies and regulatory guidelines are developed.
“Reshaping the power
sector and exposing nuclear power to the rigors of marketplace competition has
long-term consequences for public health and safety, the economic well-being of
several local communities, and the quality of sensitive environmental
resources,” said Kyle Rabin. "We
are convinced that these issues require immediate policy guidance at the
highest levels of state government and should not be dealt with in a piecemeal
fashion by the various state bureaucracies responsible for energy, land use,
economic development and environmental quality."
"The PSC has consistently allowed the cart to be
put before the regulatory horse," said Tim Judson of the Central New York
chapter of the Citizens Awareness Network.
"It should come as no surprise that the process of nuclear
deregulation is being derailed by the competing interests of the utilities
since there is no public policy protecting the public in the rush to pass off
nuclear liabilities. If things continue
the way they're heading, New Yorkers could wind up footing the bill for a fleet
of aging nukes run by one or two multinationals. Before deregulation becomes a nuclear free-for-all, the public
needs for the PSC to grab the reigns and set this process on the right
track," concluded Judson.
-30-
Copies of our Motion to Dismiss are available upon request.