A Message from Michael Kansler,
President, Entergy Nuclear

Entergy Nuclear has prepared this website to serve as a reliable source of information regarding our Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, N.Y. On this website we present facts to show that the plants are operating safely, that they function under the highest levels of security, and that they are a vital part of New York's energy marketplace. We feel citizens should have access to facts so they can form opinions about Indian Point based on reason rather than emotion.

Independent Safety Evaluation report on Indian Point completed
Entergy creates cross-functional team to determine next steps

White Plains, N.Y. — The Independent Safety Evaluation (ISE) panel"s report, while identifying areas for improvement that need to be addressed, confirms that Indian Point Energy Center is a safe and secure plant, Entergy officials said Thursday. Read more...

Entergy announces Independent Safety Evaluation at Indian Point

In an effort to provide public assurances about the operation and protection of New York's largest nuclear power facility, Entergy Nuclear today announced the start of a fully independent examination of safety, security and emergency preparedness at its Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC) in Buchanan.

To read the complete press release and view more information on the announcement, click here.

View Entergy's advertisement on the Independent Safety Assessment (PDF 77KB).

Emergency Planning

The latest version of the emergency planning brochure for residents within the 10-mile emergency planning zone (EPZ) around the Indian Point Energy Center has been posted on the website. To review your county's emergency planning information, please click here.

Dry Cask Storage

Indian Point Energy Center reached another milestone on Friday, January 11, as the first dry cask -- loaded with spent nuclear fuel -- was safely moved from Indian Point Unit 2's spent fuel building to the site's Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) pad on the North Hill of the property. The safe storage of spent fuel at Indian Point is a significant, long-term financial investment. The company has dedicated top-tier resources and personnel to ensure this process receives the focus required to complete such a specialized task safely and securely. Please click here to read more about Dry Cask Storage.

Major Upgrades

• Since purchasing Indian Point from its previous owners in 2001, Entergy Nuclear has invested hundreds-of-millions of dollars by upgrading equipment and major components, security and emergency planning programs/equipment, and initiating a major overhaul of training programs.
• Following an FBI assessment at the end of 2001 of long-term security needs at Indian Point, then Director of the New York State Office of Public Security James Kallstrom stated that "My feeling after this whole process is that this is an extremely safe place."

Positive Impact on the Environment

• By generating electricity using nuclear power, Indian Point emits ZERO greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide) -- gases which have been linked to global warming.
• Environmental impact studies have shown that replacing Indian Point's power with electricity generated by fossil-fuel based plants (e.g., natural gas or coal) will likely create a rise in carbon dioxide emissions, a 19% jump in nitrous oxide emissions and an 11% hike in sulfur dioxide emissions.

A Vital Source of Energy

• There is no viable energy alternative to replace Indian Point's 2,000 megawatts of power -- enough power to light 2 million homes and businesses.
• Indian Point has proven itself as an extremely reliable, primary source of baseload electric power -- power that must be generated around-the-clock to support this region's 24/7 economy.
• Nuclear power is homegrown, American energy, which is unaffected by international pressures or politics.
• Indian Point is consistently one of the cheapest sources of power in the region.
• Nuclear power is a predictable and stable source of power for generating electricity -- unlike gas, oil and coal, which are volatile commodities.
• Government buildings, mass transit (subways and Metro North rail lines), hospitals and other critical infrastructure rely on the power Indian Point provides around-the-clock.
• Indian Point provides hundreds-of-millions of dollars in economic benefits annually to the entire Hudson Valley region in the form of taxes, consumer savings, purchases, salaries and charitable contributions.

Even the National Academy of Sciences says:

• "Even with Indian Point's units operational, New York State will require system reinforcements... as soon as 2008 in order to meet its projected demand and maintain system reliability."
• "New generating capacity may not be available until reserves are dangerously low. Forestalling a crisis may require extraordinary efforts on the part of policy makers and regulators."
• "Electricity from new plants is almost certain to be more costly than that from Indian Point."
• "...maintaining a reliable supply of electricity for New York City and southeastern New York State is a primary objective for public policy and essential to the region's health and economic well-being."
• "If new generating capacity is not constructed in a timely manner, system reliability would be threatened."

With an increased focus on the issue of terrorism, at the end of 2001, the FBI released a report assessing the long-term security needs at the Indian Point Energy Center. During the press conference on the report, James Kallstrom, then director of the New York State Office of Public Security, had this to offer:

• "I am very pleased to tell you that of the 20 plus recommendations, the vast majority of those have been accepted, the operator of this plant has continued and implemented the majority of these recommendations and is in the process of implementing many more."
• "The plant, the company that runs the plants, I have found to be totally professional in everything we saw there. They've stepped up to the plate and they have commenced spending up to 3 million dollars to make these changes to what was already a robust situation."
• "My feeling after this whole process is that this is an extremely safe place. The citizens of this county and the adjoining counties - yes, they should be concerned, and I don't mean to play light of a nuclear plant, but they should have the peace of mind we have a great security plan here."
• "I would just tell the citizens again of Rockland, Westchester, Orange and elsewhere that everything that needs to be done here is being done."
• "I am not here to represent nuclear power - good or bad. I don't care about that. What I care about is the security of this plant and the ability of a terrorist organization to take it over. I can tell you, it is robust enough. I don't think we have anything to worry about."
• "In the position I find myself in, I don't think a direct hit from a major commercial airplane could penetrate the containment dome. The good news is that this is one of the strongest constructed, designed containment facilities in the United States, if not the world. I don't state that as a fact, I state that as an opinion."
• "There cannot be a nuclear explosion at a power plant. That can't happen. It's not a nuclear bomb. This can't blow up like a Hiroshima bomb. It can't happen."
• "We're convinced that there is enough redundancy to the main issues of keeping the reactor safe and the spent fuel pool safe, the chances of that being a risk to this population are extremely low."
• "I believe they were safe here before. There weren't deficiencies, they are just building on what I think was a pretty robust security plan, seriously."

Radios Given to Bolster Indian Point Siren System

WHITE radios, about the size of a loaf of bread, will be offered to about 2,500 homes to augment a long-delayed siren system that officials are seeking to win approval for and make fully operational around the Indian Point Energy Center, officials have said.

The new $30 million siren system requires approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was not ready by an Aug. 14 deadline. Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc., the company that runs Indian Point, has paid almost $800,000 for missing deadlines and may have to pay more.

"It's been a very long process," Anthony W. Sutton, commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services, said after a meeting on Aug. 8. "But we're going to have an excellent siren system."

At a public meeting attended by a handful of Westchester residents, officials from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Westchester County and Entergy explained the system of 172 sirens.

Click here to read more.

Entergy Safely Returns Indian Point Unit 2 to Service

Tuesday, April 21, 2008 - Buchanan, N.Y. — Entergy plant operators safely returned Indian Point Energy Center's Unit 2 to service at about 6 a.m. after operators manually shut down the reactor yesterday when the main turbine generator erroneously signaled that it had reduced speed. Operations and Maintenance teams replaced the faulty circuit.

Click here to read more.

Indian Point Energy Center's Unit 2 Restarts After Maintenance and Refueling Outage

Buchanan, N.Y. (April 21, 2008) — Entergy plant operators safely reconnected Indian Point Energy Center's Unit 2 to the electric grid Sunday at 2:29 p.m. Unit 2 went offline on March 23, two days before the plant's 18th maintenance and refueling outage, after a malfunction with a main boiler feed pump.

Click here to read more.

Five Nonprofits Selected to Receive Free Air Time on WCBS-880 AM Yankee Radio Donated by Entergy Nuclear

White Plains, NY — Five nonprofit groups throughout the Lower Hudson Valley were chosen today to receive free radio airtime to promote their excellent work during regular season radio broadcasts of New York Yankee games courtesy of Entergy, owner of the Indian Point Energy Center and a long-time WCBS-880 AM Yankee Radio advertiser.

Click here to read more.

Nuclear Safety Paranoia

On January 4, The Washington Post ran a front-page story about guards found asleep at a nuclear power plant. The article also contained accusations that a whistle-blower had been ignored. Scary stuff, eh? Until you realize it's the same old story New York's WCBS-TV broke four months earlier.Even when new, the story wasn't exactly front-page material. The plant was never in jeopardy, nor was anyone endangered.

Click here to read more.