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EP '13 student Ariadne Prior-Grosch published in La Voz, "Fractura hidráulica y los reactores nucleares en Indian Point"
EP '13 student Ariadne Prior-Grosch published in La Voz, "Fractura hidráulica y los reactores nucleares en Indian Point," which translates to "Hydraulic fracturing and nuclear reactors at Indian Point."
La Voz (The Voice) is a free monthly publication of twenty pages in Spanish to serve the Hispanic community of Mid-Hudson Valley. It's available online http://lavoz.bard.edu/ and can be translated to English using a google toolbar. See below for a rough translation of the article, which can be seen in the original format here. The state of the environment in New York
For Ariadne Prior-Grosch
Hydraulic fracturing and nuclear reactors at Indian Point
The environmental situation in the state of New York is very dynamic with the projects of natural gas extraction and expiration of permits for nuclear reactors at Indian Point. Governor Andrew Cuomo has to make some tough decisions.
Since his election campaign, Governor Cuomo has been shown for plans to extract natural gas from Marcellus shale in New York, citing the benefits of creating jobs in a depressed economy, reduce dependence on imported oil and produce fewer pollutants compared by burning coal. The Marcellus shale, or Marcellus Shale is a sedimentary rock formation that stretches from the state of Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio to southwestern New York.
To extract natural gas from the rock, using a process called hydraulic fracturing, known in English as "fracking." Before there was no technology to extract natural gas from these deposits, but now with the fracking it can be removed, although negative consequences. This process has many risks, such as water pollution from chemicals used in the process, the destruction of forests to build roads and wells, the noise of heavy machinery, air pollution and increased pressure on local infrastructure. There are also an environmental justice issue because most of the wells are constructed in rural areas with few resources and companies buy mineral rights from the land of local people without explaining everything.
In July, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), New York, published a revised version of dSGEIS (draft supplemental generic declaration of environmental impact) with the recommended guidelines for fracking in New York. NYPIRGS Group (Research Group for the public interest of New York) is concerned with the analysis of the DEC on the impacts on health, drinking water, and use of hazardous chemicals as carcinogens. Also other environmental groups like Environmental Advocates New York, Riverkeeper and New York Common Cause has asked the Governor to extend the comment period on proposed regulations for the hydraulic fracturing process in New York.
In September, Governor Cuomo signed a law that protects the Allegany State Park from drilling wells but still with the plan to allow drilling on private land. For now, the government is accepting public comments on the recommendations for the extraction of Marcellus Shale gas until 12 December.
You could close the nuclear plant
The state of New York has adopted the goal of "45 by 15" to reduce electricity use by 15% and generate 30% of the energy of New York from renewable sources by 2015. There are opportunities for investment in "green" that create jobs, stimulate the economy, improve air quality and fight climate change.
Governor Andrew Cuomo now has a chance because the original permissions for the Indian Point nuclear plant in Westchester County across the Hudson River to expire in 2013 and 2015. Indian Point reactors provide 25% of the energy of New York City and Westchester County and use up to 2.5 billion gallons of Hudson River water per day as a coolant.
Over 20 million people live in a radius of 50 miles of Indian Point if there was a nuclear disaster there would be no possibility of evacuating everyone. NY Several environmental groups are working to end operations at Indian Point because it has been several mechanical problems and leaks since 1993 and is at high risk of damage from an earthquake according to the government's Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
Governor Cuomo has pledged again its intention to close the plant and have the opportunity to replace this dangerous source of 2000 megawatts of power with a combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources: solar, wind, hydro and geothermal. With the nuclear tragedy in Fukushima, Japan, even in the memory of all, the issue is of utmost importance.
12-02-2011
This event was last updated on 12-02-2011
Meet Our Faculty
Gautam Sethi teaches environmental and natural resource economics at Bard CEP. His research includes institutional mechanisms to improve water quality in Oaxaca, Mexico, and the impact of wind farms on residential property values in the U.S.
“What I value most about Bard CEP is its ability to challenge and reshape one’s views. I am constantly challenged, by my colleagues and students, to think of the world in ways I had not hitherto, and I hope to have a similar effect on their worldview.”—Gautam Sethi, Associate Professor, Bard CEP
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