Long Island Power Authority Creates Advisory Committee for Defunct Shoreham Nuclear Plan Site
Uniondale, NY- An advisory committee created by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) consisting of government, civic, and educational leaders from the Shoreham-Wading River area held its inaugural meeting recently with an eye toward future potential uses for the decommissioned nuclear power plant site.
LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law formed the Shoreham Advisory Committee in April to openly share and evaluate options that may exist for the future use and redevelopment of the land owned by LIPA surrounding and including the $6 billion nuclear plant that was decommissioned in 1994.
“This advisory panel is an important component of our study,” said LIPA President and CEO Kevin S. Law. “I look forward to an open and transparent dialogue with our government and civic leaders that will help depict the best way for the property to be utilized.”
The advisory committee will provide suggestions and feedback on what to do with the 58 acres of LIPA-owned land which includes the 10-acre parcel upon which the plant’s shell sits, while paying close attention to how it will impact the environment, taxes, and overall quality of life.
“I appreciate LIPA’s efforts to ensure transparency in the initial stages of planning for this site and am pleased to be a member of the advisory panel,” said Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. “The future use of this property will have an impact on the community. Therefore, it is important that the residents and local governments have input into the recommendations for its use.”
“The old power plant property offers great potential to the community and I am confident in moving forward the best public interest will be served,” said Assemblyman Marc Alessi. “LIPA, under the new leadership of Kevin Law, is taking the right step to addressing this land use situation through community involvement. I am hopeful we can come up with a plan to make this property productive and help reduce the property tax burden for the surrounding community.”
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“I commend Kevin Law for developing a use for this property and for his willingness to gather input from elected officials and other community stakeholders,” said advisory panel member and Suffolk County Legislator Edward P. Romaine. “Community involvement is essential to the decision-making process, as any plans for this site will have a profound impact on local residents.”
In 1965 the Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO) announced plans to erect a 500MW nuclear power plant but drew increasingly intense opposition after the 1979 Three Mile Island and the 1986 Chernobyl accidents, resulting in delays and cost increases. In 1983 Suffolk County legislators voted 15-1 on a resolution asserting that it was impossible to safely evacuate Suffolk in the event of a nuclear accident. In 1985, the federal government granted permission for LILCO to operate the facilities at test levels not to exceed 5% over the next two years, but in June 1989, following community protest, the facility was closed down and the nuclear energy used to fuel the power plants was removed. Three years later, the internal engines powering the facility were dismantled. The power plants were finally decommissioned in 1994.
“I applaud Kevin Law’s leadership and I think LIPA is moving on the right track,” said Brookhaven Town Supervisor Brian X. Foley. “The choices we make to develop the Shoreham site can help relieve the tax burden for many families who are struggling. Assembling an advisory committee is a positive step to demonstrate transparency and ensure that the community is included in the process.”
“I am very pleased with LIPA’s open approach, it’s definitely refreshing,” said President of the Wading River Civic Association Sid Bail. “I believe that Kevin Law is interested in doing something useful with the property that the community can live with. I would urge him to strongly consider green energy for that site.”
“I was certainly encouraged by our first meeting,” said Law. “That is a $6 billion white elephant standing out there (in the Sound) and serves as a constant reminder of what once was. It is my hope that forming this committee was the first step in the process of determining what might be.”
Members of the Shoreham Advisory Committee:
* Kevin S. Law, President and CEO, Long Island Power Authority
* United States Congressman Timothy Bishop
* New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle
* New York State Assemblyman Marc S. Alessi
* Town Of Brookhaven Supervisor Brian X. Foley
* Town Of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner
* Suffolk County Legislator Edward P. Romaine
* Thomas A. Isles, AICP, Director, Suffolk County Planning Department
* Sid Bail, President, Wading River Civic Association
* Kevin Ward, President, Shoreham Civic Association
* Harriet Copel, Ed. D., Superintendent, Shoreham-Wading River Central S.D.
* Mike Fucito, President, Board of Ed., Shoreham-Wading River Central S.D.
* Dr. Matthew C. Cordaro, Professor, C.W. Post College, LIU
LIPA, a non-profit municipal electric provider, owns the retail electric Transmission and Distribution System on Long Island and provides electric service to more than 1.1 million customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties and the Rockaway Peninsula in Queens. LIPA is the 2nd largest municipal electric utility in the nation in terms of electric revenues, 3rd largest in terms of customers served and the 7th largest in terms of electricity delivered. In 2006, LIPA outperformed all other overhead electric utilities in New York State in all three major reliability categories. LIPA does not provide natural gas service or own any on-island generating assets. More information about LIPA can be found online at: http://www.lipower.org
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