As part of an energy plan adopted by the New York State Greens last weekend, the Greens are calling for the shut down of nuclear power plants as a security precaution. An attack on a nuclear power plant that resulted in a meltdown of the reactor or the release of radioactive waste stored on the site could threaten the lives of tens of thousands of residents.
The New York State Greens held a rally last week at the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant in Buchanan in Westchester County, calling for its closure. The Greens also called for increased government action to support energy conservation and the development of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal.
Mark Jacobs, a member of the state Coordinating Council of the Greens and chairperson of NW Westchester Green Party, stated: "Nuclear plants have not been adequately analyzed nor designed to withstand attack by commercial jetliners operated by kamikaze pilots bent on mass destruction."
The Union of Concerned Scientists have expressed concern about the potential of saboteurs to target commercial nuclear facilities. "While federal regulation does require nuclear plants to be protected from radiological sabotage, the rules were not envisioned to apply to the types of attacks experienced Tuesday," said David A. Lochbaum, nuclear safety engineer with the Washington, D.C.-based U.C.S. "A 1974 study by General Electric reported a 100 per cent chance of a large plane penetrating the 18-inch thick concrete containment wall of boiling water reactors like Millstone Unit 1��Since 1991, the NRC has been conducting force-on-force tests of nuclear plant security. About 48% of the tests have been failures," he added. "In the years 2000 and 2001, six of the eleven sites tested resulted in the mock intruders causing core damage."
The Greens criticize the federal government for failing to take action since the Gulf War to reduce our dependence on imported petroleum so that America's sons and daughters will never again need to shed their blood for oil. Instead, US daily oil imports rose by nearly 60% since 1991.
"Let's make the shift to clean energy now, not later after the polar ice caps melt, and we suffer through further extreme droughts, hurricanes, and fossil fuel conflicts. Contrary to popular myth, renewable energy technologies-solar, small hydro, wind, biofuels-are proven, reliable and affordable. Wind power is the world's fastest growing energy source, and is currently cheaper than both coal and natural gas. Global shipments of solar photovoltaic cells grow by over 20% per year. Hydrogen fuel cells for appliances, homes, and cars appear to be right around the corner," stated Prof. Steve Breyman of the Capital District Greens.
Here in New York, Gov. Pataki ordered the state government to meet 10% of its energy needs through renewable sources by 2005, and 20% by 2010. This is a good start. But the State does not currently produce enough renewable energy to meet that modest goal, to say nothing of the energy needs of New York's businesses and households.
"The answer to our energy woes is neither to commence oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge nor to increase offshore oil drilling. The answer to our energy troubles is not to build more nuclear power plants-themselves potential targets for terrorist attack. Only a rapid and far-reaching transition to renewable energy will ensure US energy security and prevent future oil wars," stated Mark Dunlea, chair of the Legislative Committee of the NYS Greens.
