The future of the Ginna nuclear power plant in Wayne County is the subject of two public hearings this week.
The hearings are being held by the NY State Public Service Commission on a plan that would allow for the continued operation of Ginna.
According to the PSC , the three-and-a-half year agreement would cost the average residential RG&E customer an increase of about $3.89 a month on their electric bill.
Last fall, the commission found that the continued operation of Ginna is needed to preserve the reliability of the electric system, and directed RG&E to enter into talks with the owner of the plant, Exelon Corporation.
Groups for and against the use of that plant are already making their voices heard.
A local union official, Dave Young of the Building Trades Council, says if the plant were to be taken off line, it would mean a loss of millions of dollars in tax revenue, and also the loss of a reliable source of power.
“Right now gas is very inexpensive, but in the middle of winter it’s very difficult to pump enough gas to generate electricity and heat homes so prices have spikes in them and should something change with the price of gas that would leave us vulnerable.”
But the chair of the local chapter of the Sierra Club, Peter Debes, says his group is concerned about the longer term environmental issues with nuclear waste and he would rather see any money available for the plant to go toward technology such as solar energy.
“We have enough ingenuity and we have great possibilities for renewable energy, which, if we are to invest money in anything, this would be the best long term solution.”
There are two sets of hearings this week: in the Town of Webster, on Wednesday, at the town parks and recreation building at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m, and at Rochester City Hall on Thursday, also at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Comments can also be submitted via email to: secretary@dps.ny.gov
