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Campaign to save FitzPatrick plant focuses on human impact

County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency
The Upstate Energy Jobs website launched by the County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency, which targets lawmakers, puts a face on the potential closure of the FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant.

Entergy said it will close the FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant because it wasn't economically viable. Gov. Andrew Cuomo scolded that statement, saying there is much more in a company's "bottom line." As uncertainty about the plant's future grows, a new campaign to keep FitzPatrick open is putting a face on the issue.
The County of Oswego Industrial Development Agency is releasing the multimedia effort that focuses on the ramifications of losing Fitzpatrick. The campaign's website and advertisements include pictures of Fitzpatrick workers, local business leaders and statistics about what the plant generates for Oswego County.

IDA director Michael Treadwell said businesses come and go, but this case calls for special attention.

"The level of urgency has escalated," Treadwell said.

Treadwell said the campaign is targeting New York lawmakers -- urging a solution for struggling nuclear power plants. But, its chief goal is to find any way possible to keep the Fitzpatrick plant open.

"We’re the energy capital of the state of New York," Treadwell said. "We don’t want to lose that title. We want to see this county grow."

Treadwell said state officials should pass a bill that allows nuclear plants, like solar and other renewable energy producers to get tax credits that lower their production costs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9fawOa93wU

Payne Horning is a reporter and producer, primarily focusing on the city of Oswego and Oswego County. He has a passion for covering local politics and how it impacts the lives of everyday citizens. Originally from Iowa, Horning moved to Muncie, Indiana to study journalism, telecommunications and political science at Ball State University. While there, he worked as a reporter and substitute host at Indiana Public Radio. He also covered the 2015 session of the Indiana General Assembly for the statewide Indiana Public Broadcasting network.