William J. Kemble reports in The Daily Freeman that many speakers at a state Public Service Commission hearing May 26 about the state's energy policy did not like the current plans to use nuclear power. Sixteen people attended the public hearing about the state’s “Reforming the Energy Vision” plan. The plan includes wind and solar power systems, creating microgrids for communities and developing bioenergy sources, and nuclear power as ways to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 40 percent by the year 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. Dutchess County Legislator Joel Tyner, said, “We’re talking about real kids getting real cancer from nuclear reactors that you are promoting. We’re talking about real mothers dealing with real infant mortality issues and their babies dying from the nuclear reactors that you and your organization are promoting.” Kenneth Panza, a former Woodstock town councilman, was the only speaker who supported nuclear power plants. “The Ginna and FitzPatrick nuclear plants [both near Lake Ontario] combined represent about 1,500 megawatts of capacity and will generate about 12,000 [gigawatt hours] of zero-carbon electricity,” he said. “If these plants close, this amount of zero-carbon generation would increase the already formidable requirement for renewable generation by 36 percent.” Jennifer Metzger, a Rosendale town councilwoman and co-founder of the group Citizens for Local Power, said “It’s also about the impact of fossil fuel infrastructure on our communities. ... The town of Rosendale is fighting a project to build pipelines carrying fracked and volatile Bakken crude oil through our lands and water. We and other communities along the [Pilgrim] path will bear the risk for a project that directly contradicts New York’s climate and energy goals.” read the full story in The Daily Freeman.