Nuclear Energy Institute warns closure of NY's Ginna power plant would hurt consumers

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) recently warned New York residents and consumers that Exelon’s RE Ginna nuclear power plant, which provides electricity for 500,000 people, may close early.

The plant, based in Ontario, New York, may be forced to close early because of a confluence of electricity market factors. The plant is an important part of New York’s diverse electricity portfolio. 

"If the Ginna nuclear power plant were to shut down prematurely, it would have to be replaced with other electric generating capacity capable of delivering electricity around the clock. In today's world, that replacement capacity would be natural gas-fired power plants," Richard Myers, NEI's vice president of policy development, said. "Electricity produced at a new natural gas-fired power plant would be more costly than the Ginna plant, thereby penalizing New York consumers of electricity."

Closing the plant will require many New York residents to pay more for their electricity.

"The study confirms that Ginna greatly strengthens the local, regional and state economies through job creation, tax payments and direct and secondary spending," Myers said. "It also determined that Ginna prevents the release of more than two million tons of carbon dioxide annually -- the equivalent of taking 400,000 cars off the road -- which is an important factor for the state to reach its clean air objectives."