20 More Years?

Indian Point Energy Center is a nuclear power plant located in Buchanan, NY, along the Hudson River, north of New York City. It is owned by Entergy Nuclear. I am sure that most, if not all of you, know of Indian Point, even if you have no first-hand knowledge of the facility. I also have no first-hand knowledge of Indian Point, only what I hear and read.

In 2013, Indian Point needs to be relicensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); the original license was was for 40 years, and the relicense would be for 20. A few days ago, top New York State officials came out against the relicensing of Indian Point, citing numerous "deficiencies - including those related to terrorism, earthquakes, evacuation plans, and the surrounding population density." These seem like justified concerns, but I really don't know much about the technology of nuclear power to speak intelligently on whether or not Indian Point should be relicensed.

I do, however, have common sense, so I can speak intelligently on the fact that Indian Point should not be relicensed for 20 years - no nuclear power plant should be, no matter how safe it may or may not be. Nuclear energy is a very complex and potentially dangerous science, and at the rate that technology is advancing in today's society, 20 years is far too many without having to go through the relicensing process. The NRC needs to keep a much closer eye on the nuclear power plants in this country. At least more than every 20 years. People of every political point-of-view should be able to get behind that proposal.