So, New York State wants to build a new nuclear power plant Upstate, huh? And they're holding these "public information forums" to get everyone on board. Give me a freakin' break. It's always the same song and dance.
Assemblyman Scott Gray, bless his heart, is "leading the charge" to bring this thing to the North Country. Two whole forums! At Jefferson Community College and Clarkson University. Sounds impressive, right? Seven panelists, 120 people showed up at Clarkson. They're talking about "facts about nuclear energy" and "an outlook for where the state is headed."
But here's the kicker: after two hours, people still didn't have enough information. Shocker.
Danny Dullea, who was part of the anti-nuclear movement in the '70s, said it best: "The questions that they answered were highly technical, talked [nothing about] how it would affect life in the North Country for North Country people."
It's always like this, isn't it? They throw a bunch of jargon at you, pat you on the head, and expect you to just nod along. As if we're all too stupid to understand the real implications. What about renewable energy? What about solar energy? Are we even trying?
And then there's Dulli Tengeler, who lived in Germany during the Chernobyl disaster. "I have experienced the fear and the consequences—not to the fullest—but enough to make me question," she said.
Can you blame her? We're talking about nuclear energy, people! This isn't some theoretical exercise. This is real life, with real risks. But offcourse, they gloss over that part. No "counterpoint," as Potsdam resident Chelle Lindahl pointed out. Just a bunch of "researchers and pro-industry people" telling us how great it's all going to be.
It reminds me of that time I tried to get my internet provider to explain why my bill was suddenly $50 higher. Same runaround. Same feeling of being completely powerless.
Speaking of money, 91% of people in the North Country are most concerned with the affordability of electricity. And 64% are worried about long-term electricity rates associated with a nuclear power plant. So, they're worried about money and saftey. But the state's pushing it anyway.
Susan Powers from Clarkson says we need "base load" energy and it's either nuclear or fossil fuels. Because those are the ONLY options, right? No other alternatives exist?
And what about the jobs? Chelle Lindahl doesn't buy the "local jobs" line. "Really? I just do not believe that," she said. And honestly, neither do I. It'll be the same deal as always: a few token positions for locals, and the rest of the high-paying jobs going to outsiders.
The New York Power Authority is now accepting proposals from communities that want to host the facility. Meaning, it's a freakin' beauty contest where towns will be forced to grovel for the chance to have a potential environmental disaster in their backyard.
Meanwhile, the Department of Energy is getting a makeover to prioritize fossil fuels, minerals, and nuclear power. Because why not? It's not like we're facing a climate crisis or anything. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is getting shuffled around. The loan program office is being rebranded as the Office of Energy Dominance Financing. You can't make this stuff up. Wright overhauls DOE, reflecting shift in US energy priorities
I mean, what is energy even anymore? Is it about powering our lives sustainably, or is it about maintaining the status quo and lining the pockets of big corporations?
Wait. Are we really supposed to believe that these changes are about "restoring commonsense to energy policy?" I don't know, maybe I'm just too cynical.
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