Watch CBS News

Japan Nuclear Crisis Has Rockland County Afraid Of Indian Point

NEW CITY, NY (WCBS 880) - If there is anything good that has come out of the nuclear power situation in Japan, Rockland County Executive Scott Vanderhoef says it's that it has caused people in New York to question the safety of  Indian Point.

WCBS 880's Catherine Cioffi: Vanderhoef Weights Cheap Power Against Public Safety

Podcast

"Well, I have, for all of my tenure, believed that Indian Point should not be there and should not be recertified," Vanderhoef told WCBS 880 reporter Catherine Cioffi. "It should be closed down."

Vanderhoef says, finally, people are listening.

"It's a question of cheap electricity or making sure that my citizens are safe, and I choose the latter," says Vanderhoef. "Anything, potentially, could go wrong and all of the fail-safe mechanisms, potentially, could go wrong."

Vanderhoef hopes the NRC will not relicense the Indian Point nuclear power plant, located across the Hudson River in Buchanan.

He says, "It's too much of a risk."

Meanwhile, Entergy officials say there are lessons to be learned from Japan.

An earthquake and resulting tsunami have left a nuclear facility on the northern part of the country on the verge of meltdown.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.