Supreme Court Rules Cost Issue in Plant Upgrade
New York, NY —
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the government may consider cost when deciding if Indian Point and other nuclear power plants must upgrade. Alex Matthiessen is president of Riverkeeper - among the groups that sued the EPA over the plants cooling system. He says they should be required to install technology that kills fewer fish.
MATTHIESSEN: These power plants have been getting away with murder, quite literally, for 30 years, and have been saving a lot in terms of avoiding costs. But now, at least, we will have a new regulation and will give much more clear guidance to New York state and others on how to administer the law.
The EPA has the final say on power plant upgrades, and Matthiessen says he thinks the Obama Administration will do the right thing.
A spokesman for Indian Point's owner, Entergy, says it hopes today's court decision will allow the EPA to strike the right balance between the needs of the environment and the regional economy.
WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations
