“White Plains – Safe. Secure. Irrelevant? The Indian Point nuclear power plant may not be so vital after all.

The 2,000 megawatts of juice from Indian Point could be generated by non-radioactive fuels, though significant political and financial hurdles would impede shutdown of the Westchester County nuclear plant, a study released today concludes.

The findings, detailed in a report by the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that Entergy Nuclear Northeast’s claim of a safe, secure and vital energy source at Indian Point may be overblown. The study was called for by Rep. Nita Lowey, D-Harrison.

There are “no insurmountable technical barriers to the replacement of Indian Point’s capacity, energy and ancillary services,” the report said. While “significant financial, institutional, regulatory and political barriers” would have to be overcome, “the committee anticipates that a technically feasible replacement strategy for Indian Point could be achievable.”

The closure of Indian Point, which sits on the banks of the Hudson River about 35-miles north of Midtown Manhattan, has been a serious political issue for the lower Hudson Valley since Sept. 11, 2001.

Opponents of the plant say it is vulnerable to terrorist attacks, a claim that plant officials vigorously refute. One of the hijacked planes flew by the plant on its way to New York City.“

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