Oswego County leaders rally to support proposed CES, nuke power

A mix of community leaders and officials from throughout Oswego County attended and showed enthusiastic support for the thousands of nuclear workers potentially impacted should the proposed subsidies fail and upstate plants close.

“Here in Oswego County we certainly don’t have to look very far to see what the benefit of our facilities are,” said State Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Heuvelton. “There are so many workers at the plant and families attached to the plant. For nearly a year we’ve fought to show our support for upstate power. Today we’re continuing our fight.”

The state Public Services Commission-proposed clean energy standard would provide at least $480 million in annual subsidies over the next dozen years, which officials say is necessary to keep plants like FitzPatrick open while meeting Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s goals of half the state’s energy coming from alternatives by 2030 combined with a 40 percent reduction in emissions.

Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow argued preserving upstate plants was a “proven, cost-effective solution for achieving New York’s energy goals.”

A potential sale of FitzPatrick from Entergy to Exelon — which operates the nearby Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station and Ontario’s R.E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant — hinges on the adoption of the nuclear subsidies in the proposed new standards.

Exelon, which recently closed two plants in Illinois, said Nine Mile’s Unit 1 reactor was also in danger of closing without the new standards, as all of upstate’s plants face financial hardship due in part to stiff competition from low natural gas prices.

“Natural gas prices will go up at some point, [then] we’ll get pinched on prices,” said Assemblyman Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, who argued the proposed clean energy standard “is important from an energy diversification standpoint. It’s a very wise move by New York state.”

Officials expect the PSC decision next week.

“I think we’ve had fabulous support from many sectors of the economy,” said L. Michael Treadwell, chairman of UEJ. “We looked at the potential outcome and threat, and everybody was on the same train. It’s really encouraging to see a group so focused ... not knowing what the outcome could be, but knowing if we didn’t do something, it could be horrendous.”

Assemblyman Bob Oaks, R-Macedon, urged the PSC to adopt the subsidies to allow for nuclear power’s “reliable, vibrant future.”

Along with several other officials, Oaks thanked Cuomo for “listening” to nuclear employees and local officials fighting to save the upstate plants.

Oswego County Legislature Chairman Kevin Gardner, R-New Haven, noted the state’s nuclear plants provide more than 25,000 direct and indirect jobs and avoids millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Ted Skerpon, president and business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 97, noted the plants provide at least $500 million in economic activity and $17 million in annual property taxes.

Without the plants and the jobs and revenue they provide, “schools and community programs suffer,” Skerpon said.

The press conference came on the heels of UEJ’s announcement that more than 3,500 people signed the group’s letter urging state officials to swiftly approve the clean energy standards.