Indian Point

The highly-charged politics of nuclear power in the U.S. is spotlighted in Ivy Meeropol's documentary about the titular plant, which is located some 40 miles north of Manhattan. Indian Point has been operating since 1962 (although the last two of its three units did not go online until the 1970s), but given its proximity to densely-populated areas, the facility's very existence remains controversial. While clearly sympathizing with activists who want it shut down (a stance supported by Governor Andrew Cuomo), the film strives to be objective, interviewing plant supervisors who talk about their absolute commitment to safety, and those engaged in efforts to halt its operation. Particular attention is paid here to a married couple who must keep their work separate, since the wife is a leader of the opposition while the husband is a journalist who reports on environmental matters. Also examined is the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, particularly Gregory Jaczko—commissioner from 2009 to 2012—who lobbied for stricter regulations on aging plants following the 2011 nuclear disaster at Fukushima, and was (the film suggests) hounded out of office by staffers concerned with preserving their chances of securing high-paying positions in the industry after leaving government service. Environmental concerns are also raised about the effect of the plant on fish in the nearby Hudson River. Meeropol's film can be criticized for simply presenting the arguments on both sides without deeper analysis, but it does effectively capture a microcosm of the debate about nuclear energy that is important not only to the U.S. but also the entire world. Recommended. (F. Swietek)