Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton (D/WFP-125 AD) announced last Friday that she has sent a letter (attached) to the Public Service Commission in opposition to a proposed $7.6 billion dollar bail-out plan for three aging nuclear power plants across the state.

"Asking New York State ratepayers to fund non-economic nuclear power plants with $7.6 billion dollars over twelve years is unconscionable," Lifton said. "While I am pleased about the state's efforts to achieve 50% of our electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030, nuclear facilities absolutely do not qualify as "renewable" and should not be a part of the Clean Energy Standard, as is currently proposed."

"As stated in my legislative sign-on letter released this month with 21 of my colleagues as signatories, energy efficiency and weatherization of homes, businesses and institutions is the easliest and most cost-effective way to curb our energy demand," Lifton stated. "Rather than spend nearly $8 billion to prop up our nuclear plants and save approximately 2,000 jobs, a fraction of this money could go towards a robust energy conservation program which could reduce electricity usage up to 30% and create thousands of jobs in local communities across the state."

"If we work together to reduce electricity usage -- again, the cheapest option – we would not need to spend unprecedented amounts of ratepayer dollars on preserving nuclear plants that have outlived their intended lifespan. We should, instead, pivot towards the energy of the future by investing in conservation measures, a renewable energy build-out, and a smart grid. This is what a bold, yet affordable and realistic energy program, needs to incorporate,"  Lifton concluded.

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