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 zero-emission credits 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.
“While we understand the concern of Senator Ritchie and others, we have always been open to any viable alternatives to the shutdown of FitzPatrick,” Entergy spokeswoman Tammy Holden said via email Monday. “We remain focused on safely operating FitzPatrick through the end of its current operating cycle, then safely and orderly decommissioning the plant.”
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 did not respond to requests for comment.
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 also tried to keep the plant open long enough for another operator to step in and keep the facility running for the long term. Entergy has so far dismissed all such proposals as not viable.
Entergy ceased operations at its Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in December 2014, and plans to shutter its Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts by June 2019.
