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Hotter Than July

Faced with the prospect of electricity demand rising 80 percent above normal use on hot days, the probability of New York having blackouts or brownouts is very real.

Faced with the prospect of electricity demand rising 80 percent above normal use on hot days, the probability of New York having blackouts or brownouts is very real.  The impacts would be devastating for the millions of New York residents and vital medical, food service, and transportation industries. Air conditioner users – worry not. In late May, the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) indicated it would be ready to meet peak demand this summer. As of today, NYISO has met this burden.

“The development of new demand response resources and the addition of generation and expansion of interstate transmission over the past several years have contributed to a more reliable system. As a result, the state has sufficient generating capacity and demand side resources to address expected peak usage this summer,” said NYISO President and CEO Stephen G. Whitley.

Ratepayers and air quality enthusiasts, however, do have reason to worry. Hazy and humid days require cooling off for our most vulnerable populations, including seniors and people afflicted with asthma. Unlike dirty fossil fuel plants, nuclear power does not contribute to electricity price spikes or toxic air emissions. In fact, nuclear energy is not only safe, but arguably the sole reason why our electrical system is so reliable in New York State.

NYISO agrees. At a NYS Assembly hearing, they stated, all things equal, without Indian Point, they “would have to shed load.” In laymen terms, this means cascading blackouts.”

Regardless of where you stand on nuclear power, the facts support the plant. In this extreme weather environment of heat wave after heat wave, and the rising prospect of transitioning to electricity as a fuel source, we need protect the assets which protect our environment and sustain our economy. This includes the continued operation and license renewal for Indian Point.

Thanks to NYISO and Indian Point we can stay cool and keep the lights on this summer and beyond.

For more tips on energy savings, see my previous blog on Patch.com.

Bob Rohr July 17, 2012 at 01:44 am
Mr. Thomas can you list the amount of high level waste stored on the site, and how soon it will be safe?
From the NRC site: However, while they are decaying, they emit radiation. Some isotopes decay in hours or even minutes, but others decay very slowly. Strontium-90 and cesium-137 have half-lives of about 30 years (that means that half the radioactivity of a given quantity of strontium-90, for example, will decay in 30 years). Plutonium-239 has a half-life of 24,000 years. High-level wastes are hazardous to humans and other life forms because of their high radiation levels that are capable of producing fatal doses during short periods of direct exposure. For example, ten years after removal from a reactor, the surface dose rate for a typical spent fuel assembly exceeds 10,000 rem/hour, whereas a fatal whole-body dose for humans is about 500 rem (if received all at one time). Furthermore, if constituents of these high-level wastes were to get into ground water or rivers, they could enter into food chains. Although the dose produced through this indirect exposure is much smaller than a direct exposure dose, there is a greater potential for a larger population to be exposed. http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/radwaste.html
Ross Revira July 17, 2012 at 11:37 am
So Bob what is worse, the nuclear waste stored at the plant with the small potential for a disaster or to spew more carbon dioxide in the air by burning coal, oil, and natural gas to produce electricity ? In the real world not the fantasy world many people live in solar, wind, and wave action does not produce enough electricity to eliminate nuclear plants.
Walden Macnair July 17, 2012 at 02:07 pm
Bob, I don't know how much waste is there but I can answer your question as to when it will be safe. When you say that strontium and cesium have a half life of 30 years you're correct. However physicists agree that it takes ten half lives for it to decay enough to be effectively inert and that translates to 300 years. The same rule applies to plutonium so in reality, it will never be safe.
I believe we do need IP right now because the infrastructure was built around it but we need a plan to dismantle it, as it's just too dangerous due to where it's located. As to wind, solar, waves they're all viable and anyone who believes that the technology will not improve significantly over the next ten years lacks vision. Rice university has already developed a solar cell/battery that can be applied like paint to the outside of your house. No it's not on the market and won't be for years but it will happen and then someday we'll be able to shut down every nuclear, coal and gas powered plant in the Country and breath a little easier.
Bob Rohr July 18, 2012 at 12:14 am
Actually I was not addressing the safety of the plant, I was addressing the waste stored on the site. Which is probably more dangerous than the plant itself. The only beef I have with the plant is that is is old,maybe too old.
The Federal Govt in effect owns/controls all of the spent fuel rods. The idea behind civilian Nuclear Plants was to not only to produce electricity, but to provide a source of Plutonium. The Plutonium was then supposed to be taken by the Federal Govt and used to produce Nuclear Weapons, or safely stored for later use. In the old Cold War Era, this made a lot of sense, Civilian Reactors would generate Electricity and Plutonium. Problem was we don't make very many Bombs anymore. The Feds decided they were no longer interested in collecting the spent rods, so Entergy and other operators are stuck with storing the Plutonium on site. Plutonium is the most toxic substance known. Yes, I would feel more comfortable with a Natural Gas plant on that site.

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jo June 18, 2013 at 10:10 am
the news system has been a horror since day one.. nothing was wrong with the old system..new systemRead More Not User friendly at all.. in fact it discourages users.. the format is confusing..can never find the articles once posted again... bring it back.. who ever made this decision should be fired.. lets see if this gets posted..
leesther brown June 18, 2013 at 11:26 am
@Ashley, I posted a comment on my own announcement and it disappeared twice..
JM June 18, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Ashley, do you live here in Peekskill? I second what Jo said, the ''new'' patch design is really aRead More horror, although I realize that is not your responsibility. While I think the former editor, Rasheed, probably let some things stand that might be considered rude/mean, how many comments are actually being deleted, versus hitting a tech glitch? I post on yahoo, about half my comments don't make it. Seems the longer I have the comment window open the less chance it gets posted. so that is a tech bug not censorship.
sue June 17, 2013 at 06:55 pm
they put them out bottom window to do their"business" right under several of our decks.Read More they are very rude and unhygenic.
sue June 17, 2013 at 07:00 pm
don't know why I'm having a problem getting this written............anyway...they are rude,Read More unhygenic and WILL NOT follow any of the condo rules....there's so much more but we are sick of it. There are only two of us that speak up...everyone else is cowering behind closed doors.
joshua tanner June 18, 2013 at 03:00 pm
Unleashed dogs is getting to be a big problem in Peekskill. I see them routinely now. People areRead More letting their pit bulls out, their poodles, their chihuahuas - all kinds of dogs. Two days a go I watched a lady jogging on the track with her loose dog. The dog wasn't even supposed to be on the track no less loose. Some kid or elderly lady is going to get bit. Loose dogs also end up in more fights with other dogs.
Nancy O'Connor June 17, 2013 at 09:33 am
It was our pleasure to help out....good food, good weather, all around good time!!
leesther brown June 18, 2013 at 11:48 am
@Nancy,,I Thanked both you and Pauline Ghilcrest for serving the community and they took my commentsRead More down twice!!! Once again Thank You..you're automatically signed up for next year..:)
joshua tanner June 15, 2013 at 10:28 pm
It seems Patch moves editors every year. Liz was here when I signed up. Then she was shortly movedRead More to Rye and Rasheed took over. He must have been here about a year and then he left when the new format was introduced. Both times patch started cooking and then it got cut down just as new staff got their mojo going. A new editor with a new format seems like starting from scratch again. I know AOL/Patch needs to get some cash flow going quick (from what I've read) but I can't see what they are trying to do exactly by tipping the cart over and over
Wendy Kelly June 17, 2013 at 08:37 am
Agree Joshua just when you have a good thing going with an Editor they move. I can't figure thisRead More site out I was not allowed to post for at least a week thought Mary et al put an hex on me. Hey anyone know where Peter Goodson is??? I miss his posts.
jo June 18, 2013 at 10:12 am
new format is a dud.. 100% dud.. not user friendly.. a horror to navigate, as mentioned... noRead More benefit here. not at all.. quickly becoming a ex Patch fan... fix the mess you made..
Wendy Kelly June 15, 2013 at 11:03 am
http://search.lohud.com/sp?aff=1100&skin=&keywords=revitalization of Peekskill
Working Families Party endorsed candidate Mary Foster
Robin Seggs June 14, 2013 at 10:44 am
Working Families Party almost always cross endorses with Democrats. Looks like the choice isRead More getting clearer: One team is Democrat, WFP and Independent and the Catalina Team is Republican, Right-to-life, Conservative. Anyway, I believe Catalina is campaigning as anti-gay rights, so I know how I will be voting.
jo June 14, 2013 at 02:28 pm
and so many in the cast of characters that attend the meetings. believe Mary is a republican atRead More heart.. and here the Left of all left dem groups endorses here..mmmmmmmm just thinking out loud..
stephanie June 14, 2013 at 03:57 pm
mary foster and the rest of her butt kissers not need to run after what they have done to this cityRead More already we don't need them to run another term they neeed to get out and stay out. i believe frank catalina will much better than foster will ever be he cares about the city and does not like what foster has done to this city i wish him very much luck and i truly believe he will win as our mayor for peekskill good luck and kick foster and her butt kissers out of city hall and keep them out
af24us June 12, 2013 at 01:48 pm
I agree - the dangerous stop signs On Hudson Ave should be removed in both directions and keep theRead More stop signs on South St. and the exit ramps from Route 9.
Master Nicholas Canaan and his Lodge Officers for the 2013-14 Masonic Year
Fly on the Wall June 9, 2013 at 08:49 pm
Great,..... Masons... send'em over to city hall to re-point the building. Lot's of loose bricks overRead More there.