NY AREA Rallies Support for Indian Point

Yesterday, another stage in the PR battle over the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant began, as supporters and opponents of the plant both staged public rallies concerning a possible relicensing.

But while you might be familiar with many of the names associated with the opponents of Indian Point, you ought to take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (NY AREA), an alliance of business, labor and community groups formed to rally support for the plant and raise public awareness about the New York area's energy needs.

Yesterday at a press conference in White Plains, New York, Jerry Kremer, former New York State Assemblyman and Chairman of the Advisory Board of NY AREA had this to say:

Tonight, the anti-nuclear group Riverkeeper will launch what they are calling a campaign kickoff to deny re-licensing for the Indian Point Energy Center and advance their cause to close the plants. But it’s really an attempt to breathe life into what has become a tired and discredited campaign.

It would be nice to ignore Riverkeeper’'s membership campaign, except for the fact that they are promoting an agenda that would wreak havoc on both our regional economy and the environment.

Considering all the criticism over air quality in this region, New York needs the clean power that Indian Point provides and will need it even more in the years to come. That'’s why a diverse group of business, labor, environmental, and community leaders have come here today.

On their Web site, the group has an extensive list of resources, including a copy of the NEI economic impact study on Indian Point.

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