As Indian Point Shutdown Nears, Entergy Posts Layoff Warning

CORTLANDT, NY — With the final shutdown for Indian Point coming in April, Entergy has filed a notice with the New York State Labor Department about the imminent layoff of 308 employees.

The layoff date is May 20, according to the notice, and covers all 308 employees at the plant.

A nuclear power plant has been operating at Indian Point for almost 60 years. After years of battle with anti-nuclear activists, environmental groups and finally the state government, Entergy, then the plant's owner, agreed to shut down its two working reactors by the spring of 2021.

Unit 2, which started up in 1974 when Unit 1 shut down, closed for good in 2020. SEE: NRC Observes Final Shutdown Of Indian Point Unit 2. Unit 3 is scheduled for shutdown at the end of April.

The plant employed close to 1,000 people. It covered half of the village of Buchanan's annual tax base and one-third of the Hendrick Hudson school district's tax base, paid $1 million a year to the town of Cortlandt and paid Westchester County $4.5 million a year in lieu of taxes.

Entergy announced it would sell the plant to Holtec International. In 2020, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the transfer of the Indian Point Energy Center licenses to Holtec subsidiaries for decommissioning and clean-up. While the process may take up to 60 years under federal rules, Holtec has promised to do it in 12-15 years.

The New York State Public Service Commission announced Tuesday that it will hold two virtual public statement hearings Feb. 23 about Entergy's formal petition requesting that the PSC either disclaim jurisdiction over, or alternatively authorize, the transfer of ownership of the Indian Point site, spent fuel, and waste storage facilities, with other assets and liabilities, to Holtec.

• 1 p.m. Feb. 23: Electronic Access: www.webex.com. Event Number: 179 222 2688. Password: Feb23PSH-1pm. Phone-Only Access: (518) 549-0500. Access Code: 179 222 2688
• 6 p.m. Feb. 23: Electronic Access: www.webex.com. Event Number: 179 579 8495. Password: Feb23PSH-6pm. Phone-Only Access: (518) 549-0500. Access Code: 179 579 8495

In November, Holtec officials said about 300 Entergy employees would join their subsidiary company for the clean-up.

"We will also do our very best to create new well-paying jobs at the site in the emerging green energy technologies, such as battery storage, that are a principal business thrust for our parent, Holtec International, in this decade," Pamela B. Cowan, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Holtec Decommissioning International, said in a news release.

SEE ALSO: Letter to the Editor: Sale Of Indian Point Is Welcome News