When a 2.3-magnitude earthquake shook the region recently, County Executive Ken Jenkins took the opportunity to challenge those advocating for the reopening of a nuclear plant near Peekskill.
The quake, which did not cause damage or injuries, was centered in Sleepy Hollow and felt throughout the county.
“Today’s earthquake underscores yet another reason why a nuclear power plant does not belong in Westchester County,” Jenkins said. “The safety of our residents and the protection of the Hudson Valley must always come first.”
On March 6, two days before the earthquake, Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright stood outside the decommissioned Indian Point Energy Center in Peekskill, calling for its reopening. He was joined by U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, a Republican who represents part of the lower Hudson Valley, including portions of Westchester County.
Wright called the plant’s closing a “foolish political decision.” Lawler’s office issued a statement arguing that reopening the plant would “lower energy costs and strengthen the reliability of New York’s electric grid.”
By the time the decommissioning process of Indian Point’s final reactor began in April 2021, it had been active for almost 60 years, providing more than 80 percent of the region’s carbon-free electricity. Although its contribution to the energy grid was significant, its location also presented risks. The plant is situated on the Hudson River, near one of the most densely populated areas of the country, as well as in a significant seismic zone.
Before the plant’s decommissioning, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ranked Indian Point among the top 10 plants “most in need of reevaluation for earthquake vulnerability.”
March’s earthquake was the second in the past three years in Westchester County. A slightly smaller, 2.2-magnitude earthquake occurred in May 2023 in the Yonkers area. That was the first earthquake reported in the county since 2018. Both resulted in minor shaking throughout the county, including Peekskill.
In a statement approving the decision to close Indian Point, the National Resource Defense Council cited this risk and various disasters that occurred during the plant’s years of operation. Among other incidents, the plant suffered a transformer fire in May 2015, spilling thousands of gallons of oil into the Hudson River, and there were multiple spills that put radioactive materials into the river and nearby groundwater.
During his tenure, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo supported closing the plant. While current Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced nuclear energy development plans in upstate New York, she opposes reopening Indian Point.
Even if the plant reopened, it would not immediately resume operations. Decommissioning is a complex and lengthy process, expected to last until the 2040s. Recommissioning, and getting the plant back to legal standards, would require significant time, energy, and funding.
