Seeks renewable energy solutions for informed policy making

As a follow-up to the April 6 “Power Sail: A Summit for Solutions,” Clearwater is hosting a technical briefing on the current issues surrounding nuclear energy and renewable solutions for powering the Hudson Valley, taking place today at the Desmond Fish Library in Garrison, NY.

Participants include government officials; nuclear, seismic, and environmental experts; regional stakeholders and environmental community members will participate in this symposium, which seeks input from diverse points of view in order to open the dialog for solutions. The goal of the symposium is to present the best information available to elected and appointed officials, particularly those from the four NY counties adjacent to Indian Point and New York City, in an effort to encourage informed policy decisions.

In the context of the recent disaster at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the first session, from 1pm – 3pm, will address the risks associated with Indian Point and current deficits in the NRC Relicensing Process. Key points of discussion will include regional evacuation, seismic activity, health effects from exposure to radiation, terrorism, and long-term onsite storage of nuclear waste.

The second session, from 3pm – 5pm, will address strategies for transitioning the region to a green energy economy. Participants will work to identify the true percentage of power to be made up if IP is taken offline; assess existing replacement energy; determine the value of energy conservation; the effectiveness of renewable alternatives such as solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal technologies; and strategies for bringing about green jobs for a green Hudson Valley economy.