New York state Sen. Patty Ritchie (R) is trying to force power provider Entergy to sell its James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant to the state, the latest attempt to keep the Oswego County facility alive and save the jobs of more than 600 workers.
Ritchie, who has championed state nuclear tax incentives in the name of saving FitzPatrick, introduced Senate Bill 8032 last week. The legislation would authorize the New York Power Authority to purchase the 41-year-old plant through the power of eminent domain. NYPA owned the facility from 1975 to 2000.
Citing low natural gas prices, increased operational costs, and a poor market design, Entergy in November announced plans to close FitzPatrick by early 2017. New York’s nuclear fleet produces about 30 percent of the state’s energy.
NYPA spokesman Steven Gossett declined to comment in an email Monday, saying, “It is NYPA policy not to comment on proposed legislation.” Ritchie’s office and Entergy could not immediately be reached for comment. The company has rejected prior proposals to keep the plant operating.
The New York Public Service Commission in February pitched a “rescue plan” to Entergy that would allow bridge funding for the plant ahead of Gov. Andrew Cuomo implementing his Clean Energy Standard, which allows nuclear power sources the same tax credits available to solar and wind sources. The Cuomo administration has set the goal of sourcing 50 percent of New York’s power with clean, renewable energy by 2030. Ritchie and other lawmakers have tried to keep the plant open long enough for another operator to step in and keep the facility running for the long term.