One day after Governor Eliot Spitzer and New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo filed papers with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission asking it to deny an
application to relicense the Indian Point nuclear power plant, the New York Building Congress Energy Committee hosted Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson for a
discussion of the issue, as well as the administration’s efforts to renew Article X legislation and spur the use of more renewable sources of energy, including wind and solar power.

Lt. Governor Paterson told those assembled that, while the administration opposes the current application over environmental and public safety objections, Governor Spitzer is not calling for an immediate closure of the facility, which generates 2,000 MW of electricity for use in New York City. He added that the administration does not want to close the nuclear facility until replacement power is identified.The Governor also is willing to discuss alterations to the application by Entergy, which operates the plant.

Rudin Management Chief Operating Officer John Gilbert, who is Chairman of the Energy Committee, thanked Lt. Governor Paterson for engaging in a dialogue with the members of the Committee. Noting the Building Congress 2006 Electricity Outlook report, which stated the need for an additional 6,000 to 7,000 MW of additional generating capacity over the next two decades to accommodate growing demand, Mr. Gilbert said, “We want to make clear that, at this point, Indian Point must remain open.”