Jaffee Letter to Public Service Commission on Nuclear Industry Subsidies

Latest proposal to give nuclear power plants nearly $8 billion in taxpayer subsidies is “unacceptable, largely out of public view, and in undue haste.”

PRESS RELEASE

Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee (D-Suffern) on July 20 sent a letter to the Public Service Commission (PSC) calling the latest proposal to give nuclear power plants nearly $8 billion in taxpayer subsidies “unacceptable, largely out of public view, and in undue haste.”

Jaffee is Chair of the New York State Assembly Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation and a member of the Committee on Environmental Conservation.

In the letter, Jaffee said, “this enormous nuclear tax on New Yorkers will have to be paid for by the working people of New York State, our businesses, and our local governments and schools.” She said she was concerned because the enormous price tag for this nuclear bailout was revealed on July 8, the Legislature was not notified, and the public has been given only two weeks to comment.”

The PSC is pushing to get the nuclear subsidies passed in time to save the unprofitable nuclear power plant in Upstate New York and to prevent the closure of at least two other nuclear plants, but the funds may also be claimed to continue operations at Indian Point.  These taxpayer subsidies to the nuclear industry are being proposed as part of a “Clean Energy Standard,” which had been promoted by the PSC as being about renewable energy and emission-free energy production.

“Nuclear energy is not renewable.  Nor is nuclear energy emission free,” Jaffee wrote. “There are better, less expensive ways to meet our state energy and environmental goals that don’t involve bailing out dangerous nuclear power plants.”

Jaffee called on the Commission to give the Legislature time to consider and weigh in on the plan and to extend the public comment period and increase transparency.