On March 6, 2026 NY CD-17 Rep. Lawler and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright held a news conference at Indian Point. They advocated for its rebuilding and reopening.
Click here to see a press release from Rep. Lawler's office.
National Experts, Env Groups, Communities Near Indian Point Strongly Oppose Trump Energy Secretary Wright’s Call to Reopen.
Entergy Closed Indian Point Due to Reduced Revenues, Increased Costs & Cheaper Alternatives.
Indian Point is a State Superfund Site with a Decades-Long Cleanup.
National experts and environmental groups joined with community groups living near the Indian Point closed nuclear reactors to vehemently oppose Trump Administration Energy Secretary Wright’s recent call to reopen the shuttered Indian Point reactor. The groups reminded the Secretary that the reactor closed because it was an economic failure, noting that the economic climate for nuclear power has only worsened as renewable energy has proven to be affordable, dependable and safe.
For People's Press Conference, click HERE.
“Key considerations in our decision to shut down Indian Point ahead of schedule include sustained low current and projected wholesale energy prices that have reduced revenues, as well as increased operating costs, said Bill Mohl, president of Entergy Wholesale Commodities” in 2017.
The groups stated just two of the many problems with nuclear reactors are as follows:
Sky-High Utility Bills The last two reactors built in America in 30 years - the GA Vogtle reactors - in 2024 resulted in a 25% increase in utility bills for the next 60 years. “Nuclear power is really expensive—far more expensive than solar, wind or hydro or energy storage—and it’s extremely slow to deploy,” said Dr. Robert Howarth, Cornell University scientist and Climate Action Council Member. “If you want to meet New York’s climate goals, nuclear power is just not going to do it.”
Harvard Landmark Studies Find Increased Cancer Mortality and Radioactive Pollution Two recent studies by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found nuclear reactor communities have higher rates of cancer mortality and "significantly increased cancer incidence," with risk declining beyond roughly 18 miles from reactors. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-025-01248-6. Another recent study found indoor dust in homes and soil in yards next to the MA closed Pilgrim nuclear reactor were contaminated with radioactive chemicals.
Dr. Joseph Romm, national energy expert, former U.S. DOE official: “Reopening Indian Point would be an anti-affordability disaster with huge health and safety risks. The $10 to $12 billion or more cost would raise rates on New Yorkers whereas virtual power plants, wind, solar, and batteries would achieve reliable power at lower cost as Google and others have shown. The latest Harvard research finds that proximity to nuclear plants "significantly increased cancer incidence,” in Massachusetts and was "associated with increased cancer mortality” nationwide.
Also, since the Trump administration has gutted the independence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, no one can be sure any nuclear plant will be operated safely, let alone one as troubled as Indian Point. So, no old reactors should be reopened or new ones built in the state without a comprehensive independent economic and safety analysis, along with a study to find out if current or recently operating nuclear plants in New York have had an impact on cancer incidence.”
Paul Gunter, Reactor Oversight Project Director, Beyond Nuclear: “With cost effective, utility-grade, safe renewable energy and battery storage now 90% of all new generating capacity being deployed in the US, it is crazy talk to rebuild Indian Point nuclear station. Relicensing, reconstructing and reopening another dangerous nuclear power station close to New York City will also at least triple the cost of electricity, if it is ever completed. Moreover, the notion the nuclear industry can keep piling up more nuclear waste with no place to go on the Hudson River is just as crazy.”
Klaus H. Jacob, Geophysicist, NYC: “A mandatory and thorough Environmental Impact Assessment of nuclear energy needs to also show alternative energy production options. It would by all likelihood show that such alternatives are much more cost effective, especially if the costs of fuel production and long-term storage of used fuel are correctly accounted for. Spending billions of dollars on nuclear energy is a waste of precious capital and resources. Also, accounting for flood risks from sea level rise and potential earthquakes at a nuclear reactor site at this location drive up the cost further.”
Owl (Attorney S.D. Smith) Member, Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation: “Ramapough Munsee Lenape Nation, one of the communities descended from the original Munsee Lenape people of NY and NJ, approved a Resolution recognizing the Right of the Hudson River (Mahicanituk in Munsee) to be free from pollution. Adding more deadly nuclear waste to the existing toxic time bombs of waste at Indian Point that will remain toxic for years, decades, centuries, millenia and for some elements billions of years is a crime against our health and environment.”
Kathleen Nolan, MD, MSL, President, NYS Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR): “"To improve public health, we should close down nuclear reactors and keep them closed. We know that ionizing radiation is carcinogenic and mutagenic and we know that nuclear power plants emit radioactive pollutants that contaminate surrounding air, water, and soils. New research confirms an increased incidence of deaths from cancer in those living near active nuclear reactors which makes obtaining energy from nuclear power an unhealthy as well as unsafe and very expensive option.”
Attorney Nancy Vann, Safe Energy Rights Group: “We were surprised to hear Energy Secretary Wright’s criticism that decisions in recent years to close nuclear plants were ‘foolish’ since Entergy, the company that owned Indian Point, made it clear the plant was closed for financial reasons. Wind, solar and storage are the lowest cost methods for making electricity. So if, as Wright says, “investment goes to where there’s low-cost, affordable energy,” spending billions of dollars to rebuild a money-losing nuclear plant that has already been extensively demolished isn’t an option anyone should consider undertaking!”
Deborah Porder, Stop Holtec Coalition: “Reopening Indian Point will cause our energy bills to explode.The last nuclear power plant built in the United States raised electricity rates 25% and cost each household $1000 for construction. We should be investing in wind, solar, battery storage and geothermal - all of which run on clean sources of energy. Just like the tobacco companies wanted customers addicted to cigarettes, the fossil fuel/nuclear industries want us addicted to their expensive, dirty fuels.”
Fred Harrison, Shoreham opponent, Alliance For Nuclear Free New York: “Nuclear energy has a history of false promises. The Shoreham plant on Long Island ended up costing 25 times the original estimate. Ratepayers continue to pay for this “white elephant” in their monthly bills. Nuclear energy has proven itself uneconomic. Shoreham is now the site of a solar farm with battery storage in the planning stages. Indian Point too, should become a monument to the transition to affordable and safe renewable energy.”
Catherine Skopic, Sierra Club Greater Metropolitan Region Fossil-Free, Nuclear-Free Committee: “There is a good reason the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant was shut down - actually hundreds of them from loose bolts banging around in a reactor to leaking fuel pools. It is not safe to re-open. Don’t Do It.”
Susan Shapiro, LEAF of Hudson Valley: “Just two years ago Governor Hochul shook my hand and promised Indian Point would never be re-opened. Sadly, now the Governor intends to build 5 new reactors estimated to be $100 billion by energy economic experts and Trump wants to re-open Indian Point and will try to use federal pre-emption to overturn state law. The Legislature needs to say no to nuclear as we cannot afford to continue increasing our electricity bills to subsidize nuclear power.”
Suzannah Glidden, STOP HOLTEC Coalition: “No re-opening of Indian Point is needed as its electricity wasn’t used for NYC for the previous 25 years before it closed. Nuclear reactors and its waste are lethal and unaffordable. What’s needed are renewable energies of wind, solar, battery storage and geothermal, upgrading transmission lines, energy efficiency, and leadership in sanity strongly enforcing NY's 2019 Climate Leadership Community Protection Act! “