Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant: Closure and Decommissioning

After nearly 60 years in operation, the last operational reactor in the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant shut down for the final time in April 2021. Located in Westchester County, only 25 miles from New York City, the facility was closed following decades of advocacy from Clearwater and our partners such as the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, and the United for Clean Energy Convergence. Over the decades of operation, plagued by potentially catastrophic operational failures –including a breakdown of emergency cooling systems causing Reactor #1 to be shut down in 1974, degradation of baffle-former bolts, and a boric acid leak in the reactor’s pressure vessel head (1, 2, 3).

Clearwater has been a fierce advocate and ally to grassroots organizations. In conceptualizing the creation of a Decommissioning Oversight Board with our partners in the Indian Point Convergence to advise on and assess how to protect the interests of the communities affected by decommissioning, including the interests of the current workforce. Learn more about the Decommissioning Oversight Board.

Decommissioning Indian Point

Decommissioning of Indian Point is currently underway and is estimated to be completed by 2062 (4). In early 2023, Holtec, the company decommissioning Indian Point, announced its intention to release 1.3 million gallons of treated but radioactive water into the Hudson River. Due to public outcry, the releases were postponed several times, creating the opportunity for the introduction, passage, and signing of the Save the Hudson Bill, which banned the discharge of any radiological substance into the Hudson River during the decommissioning of a nuclear power plant. Sponsored by New York State Assembly Member Levenberg and Senator Harckham, the bill was passed with bipartisan support and signed by Governor Hochul on August 18, 2023.

On November 2, Holtec submitted a Notification of Changes in Schedule to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission citing delays caused by the Save the Hudson Bill becoming law. At the December Decommissioning Oversight Board meeting, Holtec outlined their schedule changes justifying adding 8 years to the Indian Point decommissioning – view the presentation (delay info starts on slide 8). Clearwater and our partners are questioning the basis of this claim, and continuing to advocate for safe, long-term, on-site storage.

The next Decommissioning Oversight Board meeting is Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 6-8:30pm at the Cortlandt Town Hall (1 Heady Street, Cortlandt, NY 10567 – view map). Visit the DOB website to learn more, sign up to speak, and/or register to attend.

Stay up to date with the Indian Point Decommissioning Process – get updates from Clearwater

To find documents related to the Decommissioning of Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant, search using the Department of Public Service Commission files search case number: 21-01188.

After searching the case number, you can view Documents, Public Comments, the Part List, Post Comments, etc. To receive e-mail updates when Documents are added to the Indian Point Department of Public Service files, “Subscribe to Service List” (blue box on the upper right side).