Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I, D, WF-Sag Harbor) today opposed the enactment of a “nuclear subsidy” of $7.6 billion over the next 12 years by the State PSC. The nuclear subsidy will cost nearly $1 billion in the first two (2) years alone. The cost of the subsidy would be paid for by a surcharge on the ratepayers of the State of New York.

Thiele stated, “I support the Clean Energy Standard of 50% renewable energy by 2030 and wholeheartedly endorse the State efforts to foster renewable energy such as wind and solar. However, spending billions on a corporate bailout of the nuclear industry is a travesty. These nuclear plants are old, unprofitable, and a danger to public health and safety. We should not be subsidizing nuclear energy to compete with renewable energy.”

Thiele added that this nuclear subsidy is particularly unfair to Long Island. “In the 1980’s the State of New York rightfully acted to close the Shoreham Nuclear Power Station on Long Island because it posed a substantial risk to public health and safety. Even though the mistake was LILCO’s, it was the residents of Long Island that got stuck with the bill. We are still paying today with some of the highest rates in the nation. Now, the State wants ratepayers to pay a surcharge to keep unprofitable nuclear plants open. Whether nuclear plants are being closed or opened, the only constant is that the ratepayers pay. The nuclear industry wins, no matter what.”

He added that approval of this policy by the PSC in the middle of the summer when the public is not focused on politics and the State Legislature is out of session was less than transparent. “It is clear that this bailout was rushed through without full review and oversight. This is the perfect example of what Senator Bernie Sanders called the rigged economy. Our focus should be solely on renewable energy not corporate bailouts.”