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{{#Wiki_filter:By US Mail Commissioner Allison M. Macfarlane U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-16G4 Washington, DC 20555 | |||
==Dear Allison M. Macfarlane,== | |||
July 26, 2013 Enclosed is a copy of "Generating Influence," | |||
Common Cause/New York's comprehensive study of Entergy Corporation's political spending and public relations campaign to secure new operating licenses for the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchanan, New York. As you are well aware, Entergy is currently in the late stages of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission license renewal process that began in 2007. While Common Cause takes no position on the relicensing of Indian Point, we strongly believe that the final decision should be based on objective analysis of the costs and benefits and not unduly shaped by the well-funded | |||
: lobbying, campaign contributions, and publicity campaigns of Entergy Corporation. | |||
As such, it is crucial that NRC officials are fully aware of the extraordinary extent to which the appearance of "public support" for the Indian Point nuclear power plant appears to have been generated by the deceptive strategies of Entergy Corporation. | |||
In addition to the "inside game" of lobbying and campaign contributions, Entergy has engaged in an extensive "outside game" of public relations and grassroots "astroturfing" strategies. | |||
From making targeted campaign contributions and hiring former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to appear in an advertising | |||
: campaign, to cultivating influential"front group" coalitions of business interests, unions, local political | |||
: leaders, and non-profits (NY AREA and SHARE), Entergy is working the full spectrum of lobbying and publicity strategies in an all-out effort to keep Indian Point open. Interests like Entergy have every right to communicate their views to policymakers, regulators, and the public. In fact, hearing from industry is essential to guarantee a fair regulatory process. | |||
But without full transparency, disclosure, and reasonable limits and safeguards, they can too easily achieve undue influence and subvert our democratic processes and principles. | |||
In the case of Indian Point's license renewal, Entergy's use of front groups is particularly concerning. | |||
Front groups are effective because they conceal the sponsor's self-interest, giving legitimacy to arguments and tactics that would not be as effective if made by the sponsor directly. | |||
As the NRC considers its final recommendations for Indian Point, we hope the information regarding Entergy's political activities provided by the enclosed report will help inform the Commission's efforts at maintaining objectivity in all related policymaking. | |||
Sincerely, Susan Lerner Executive | |||
: Director, Common Cause New York | |||
Methodology | |||
................................. | |||
3 Key Findings: | |||
New York State Level ................ | |||
4 Key Findings: | |||
Federal Level ...*.................. | |||
5 Key Findings: | |||
PR and Astroturfing | |||
................. | |||
6 The Indian Point Debate .......*................ | |||
7 Generating Influence | |||
.............*......*..*.. | |||
12 Spreading Nuclear Money Around *......*...*..*.. | |||
15 Top New York State-Level Candidate Recipients of Entergy Contributions | |||
...*.**........ | |||
17 Top New York State-Level Committee/PAC Recipients of Entergy Contributions | |||
............... | |||
20 Entergy's Powerful Allies in New York State .......*. | |||
23 Nationwide Influence | |||
.......................... | |||
25 Campaign Contributions to New York Congressional Candidates | |||
....................... | |||
28 Top New York Congressional Candidate Recipients of Entergy Donations | |||
.................. | |||
29 Generating Influence: | |||
Entergy's Public Relations | |||
. Campaign and "Astroturf' Front Groups .....*..... | |||
31 Conclusion | |||
.........................*........ | |||
38 Endnotes | |||
*..*...................*........... | |||
39 ,!,. NewYork CAUSE Power Accountable plant located in the Village of Buchanan, just outside of the City of Peekskill in northern Westchester County, New York. Since the first reactor opened in 1962, Indian Point has served as a major source of energy generation to the New York City region. The plant consists of three reactors, of which Reactor 1 was shut down in 1974 for failing to meet regulatory require-ments.t Reactors 2 and 3, built in 1974 and 1976, currently generate 2,000 megawatts of energy, or roughly 20 to 25 percent of the electricity used by New York City and Westchester County.2 Located only 25 miles north of New York City, Indian Point has long been the subject of criticism over the potential danger of a nuclear accident. | |||
Since 2000 the plant has been owned by Entergi, a publically traded corporation based in Common Causr* \:Cw York ! p<lgt' i Louisiana that operates coal, gas, hydro, and nuclear power plants throughout the United States. In addition to Indian Point, Entergy owns an additional nine d I' * '!" ,-* n r | |||
* t -* In a ott! on tot 7e *inSide aatne or tootJVfnO onei co :n -1' * -** contributions, Entergv has engaged in an extensive | |||
{!outside go e of public relations and grassroots "astra turfing" stroregies to create the appearance of public suppo ( _ --------------- | |||
nuclear plants including the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in upstate Oswego County, New York\ the Vermont Yankee Plant, and the Massachusetts Pilgrim Plant. 5 In 2013 and 2015, Entergy's licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to operate Indian Point's two remaining reactors will expire. In order to keep the plant open, the company must win 20 year license renewals from the NRC. This report examines Entergy's political spending and public relations campaign to secure Indian Point's relicensing, an ideal case study for examining contempo-rary corporate attempts to influence policy. In addition to the "inside game" of lobbying and campaign contributions, Entergy has engaged in an extensive side game" of public relations and grassroots "astroturfing" strategies to create the appearance of public support. | |||
From making targeted campaign contributions and hiring former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to appear in an advertising | |||
: campaign, 6 to cultivating 2 j Clenerating ln11uencc; Fntergy's Political Spending and the Battle the Point >-.:*.:ck:a:* | |||
PL11'; | |||
influential "front group" coalitions of business interests, unions, local political | |||
: leaders, and non-profits (NY AREA and SHARE)?, | |||
Entergy is working the full spectrum oflobbying and publicity strategies in an all-out effort to keep Indian Point open. While Common Cause/ NY takes no position on the relicensing of Indian Point, we strongly believe that the final decision should be based in objective analysis of the costs and benefits and not unduly shaped by the well-funded | |||
: lobbying, campaign contributions, and publicity campaigns of Entergy Corporation. | |||
METBO[JOLOCY This report includes New York state and local level campaign finance data from the New York State Board of Elections, lobbying data from the New York Joint Com-mission on Public Ethics (JCOPE), | |||
and federal campaign finance and lobbying data from the FEC via the Center for Responsive Politics and InfluenceExplorer.com. | |||
At the New York State level, our analysis aggregates campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures from the NY AREA and SHARE coalitions alongside Entergy's direct spending. | |||
While these two coalitions maintain appearances of independence, the groups' IRS filings8 g and independent investigations 9 reveal that Entergy is the power behind the ;) groups' foundation and continuing operation. | |||
=\ For a full spreadsheet of the lobbying data and campaign contributions identified | |||
:> in this report, please contact Brian Paul at bpaul@commoncause.org. | |||
Common Cause New York I 3 | |||
In the eight year period from 2005 to 2012, Entergy and its associated coalitions (SHARE and NY AREA), spent just over $4 million on lobbying at the New York state level* and made $573,225 in state and local campaign contributionsb. | |||
Entergy has been successful in winning powerful allies through coalition building. | |||
: Overall, the business organizations and labor unions supporting Entergy's position on Indian Point have spent nearly three times as much in total lobbying | |||
($II.2 M) and campaign contributions | |||
($6.05M) than the environmental and civic organizations that have advocated for the plant's closure ($4.4 M on lobbying;$1.49 Min campaign contributions from affiliated individuals). | |||
a Lobbying totals includes | |||
$2.99 million from Entergy, | |||
$777,000 from the SHARE Coalition, and $534,000 from NY AREA b $573,225 total campaign contributions from 2005 through 2012, includes | |||
$523,254 from Entergy's PAC, $6,505 from Entergy executives, | |||
$28,936 from Arthur Kremer (President of NY AREA), and $14,530 from Frank Fraley (President of SHARE Coalition) and other SHARE board members. | |||
Federal Level Entergy spent a total of $31.4 million lobbying the federal government from 2005 through 2012, retaining a total of eighteen lobbying firms and donating roughly $4.17 million10 to candidates, PACS, and committees. | |||
Entergy's combined lobbying and campaign contributions increased by 57% for the 2008 cycle compared to the 2006 cycle. Spending continued to increase another 17% for the 2010 cycle before decreasing by 10% in the 2012 cycle. Since 2005, Entergy and its executives have contributed a total of $158,170 to New York Senators and Congress members. | |||
" :1* C0mnwn Cause \:ew York ! page 5 In addition to the "inside game" oflobbying and campaign contributions, Entergy has also undertaken a comprehen-sive "outside game" of grassroots strategies and advertising to build public support for Indian Point. Entergy has formed two "front groups" -SHARE (Safe Healthy Affordable Reliable Energy) and NY AREA (Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance) | |||
-to engage in "astroturf' grassroots lobbying and coalition building. | |||
c For example, the American Beverage Association spent $11.8 million in just the first half of 2010 on an advertising campaign against Governor Paterson's proposed soda tax. | |||
In 2013 and 2015, Entergy's licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to operate Indian Point's two remaining reactors will expire. In order to keep the plant open, the company must win 20 year license renewals from the NRC. Entergy launched its campaign to renew the licenses in November 200615 and the NRC process official-ly began in 200716* Although a recent federal court ruling placed a freeze on all NRC licensing activ-ity due to ongoing problems with nuclear waste storage policy!7, Indian Point can continue to operate beyond the official license deadline until the NRC reaches a final ruling. Entergy purchased Indian Point Reactor 2 in 2000 from the New York Power Authority and Indian Point Reac-tor 3 in 2001 from Consolidated Edison.18 Z Entergy is a publically traded corporation b based in Louisiana that operates coal, gas, ::I 0 u ;:-hydro, and nuclear power plants through-o 0 N Entergy contends that Indian Point is one of the safest nuclear plants in the world and argues that its closure would lead to a loss of jobs, an increase in electricity costs and blackouts, and an increase in air pollution as fossil fuel plants replace emissions-free nuclear power. As the New York Times reports, Indian Point has a long history of accidents and mishaps since the 1970s, ranging out the United States. With annual e g enues of over $11 billion, it is ranked the c. Spent fuel pool (Nov. 2007): Highly radioactive spent fuel rods are cooled under 40 feet of water. The spent fuel is then transferred to a cask storage system outdoors. | |||
Qj <2 239th largest corporation in the United States by Forbes.19 E ... c; Generating over 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power from ;a t) its nine plants annually, Entergy has much to lose if its ...<::: 0.. licenses were not renewed by the NRC. from steel liners buckling to radioactive water leaking. | |||
For a period of four years during the 1990's, repeated safety issues at Indian Point caused the plant to be placed on the NRC's watch list of plants requiring "special oversight." | |||
20 Indian Point in context: | |||
New York City and a huge portion of the metropolitan region are within 50 miles of the plant's location. | |||
Such incidents, coupled with the plant's close proximity to New York City, have made Indian Point a major safety concern for many decades. | |||
Political support for closing Indian Point gained traction after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 raised fears that the plant could be the next target. Environmentalists and some civic groups and concerned citizens argue that the risk of a nuclear accident or terrorist attack at Indian Point is not worth the benefit of the plant's jobs and power generation. | |||
Groups opposed to Indian Point also question the feasibility of safe disposal of nu-clear waste and the damage to the Hudson River's ecology that is caused by the plant's cooling system. To combat these concerns, Entergy has engaged in vigorous public relations and lobbying efforts to win governmental support and public opinion. | |||
From making targeted campaign contributions, to hiring former New York Governor Rudy Giuliani to appear in an advertis-ing campaign, to using "front groups" to form coalitions of business interests, unions, local political leaders and non-profits (the NY AREA and SHARE coalitions)2 1, En-tergy is working the full spectrum oflobbying and publici-ty strategies in an all-out effort to keep the plant open. The company has also retained public relations giant Bur-son-Marsteller 22 for over a decade, ever since Indian Point began to come under increased scrutiny as a potential terrorist target in the wake of the September 11th attacks23* Entergy's attempts to relicense Indian Point are also threatened by the political opposition of the popular and powerful Governor Andrew Cuomo, a longtime adversary of the plant. 24 From the beginning of his term as Governor, Cuomo has made shutting down Indian Point a priority2 5 and has sought to develop alternative sources of power such as an "energy highway" of additional transmission from upstate Nkw York and Canada. While Governor Cuomo firmly supports the shutdown of Indian Point, the decision to renew the plant's license ultimately rests at the federal level with the NRC, and is subject to influence by political leaders representing the region in Congress, the State Legislature, and local juris-dictions. | |||
Public opinion, in its power to sway the actions of politicians and even appointed commissions like the NRC, plays an equally critical role in influencing the future of Indian Point. In examining the debate over Indian Point, it is ant to keep in mind the national policy context of nuclear energy in the United States. The nuclear power industry suffered grave damage from the 1979 partial meltdown at Three Mile Island26 and the 1986 disaster at ChernobyF 7* No new nuclear plant has been built in the US since 1977. But for the past decade, the nuclear industry has attempted to revive its image through a comprehensive lobbying and public relations campaign coordinated through the Nude-ar Energy Institute. | |||
28 In addition to reassuring the public on the issue of safety, much of this campaign is directed at rebranding nuclear as a "green" energy alternative to fossil fuels. The industry has also built relationships with labor unions attracted by the prospect of construction jobs and the fact that nuclear plants require a larger workforce than comparable fossil fuel or renewables plants.29 These efforts have been successful in reviving consideration of nuclear power as part of the United States' energy future and win-ning favorable policies and subsidies from both Democrats and Republicans. | |||
N W.E . s . NEW JERSEY More than 250,000 New Yorkers live within the l() mile evacuation zone around Indian Point. But nuclear energy remains highly controversial and the 2011 disaster at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant (where damage from a tsunami led to meltdowns and the spread of dangerous levels of radiation for over 20 miles) has renewed fears of nuclear accidents and their potentially catastrophic consequences. | |||
. One of the arguments that critics of Indian Point raise is the alleged lack of a feasible evacuation plan in the case of a nuclear meltdown. | |||
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) mandates only a ten-mile evacuation area for Indian Point, reflecting its belief that New York City would not face any signification risk from radiation plumes30* The threat of the Fukushima disaster and the discovery of a possible earthquake fault line near Indian Point, however, have led to questions over whether such an evacuation plan is adequate. | |||
31 A recent study by the Government Accountability Office calls into question whether the 250,000 residents living within a ten-mile radius of Indian Point could successfully evacuate without escape routes grinding to a congested halt. 32 Another concern is Indian Point's spent-fuel assemblies, which the plant uses to store its used uranium. | |||
Such assemblies could be particularly vulnerable to a natural disaster and an open target for terrorist attacks. | |||
Starting in 2007, Entergy began to move portions of its waste fuel to dry cask storage to allow for upcoming re-fueling of the spent-fuel assemblies. | |||
33 Such movement, nevertheless, has ' ! --Image of dry spent fuel casks on concrete pad at a nuclear power plant site. (Nov. 2007) also attracted criticism, as in 2012, a former security guard filed a lawsuit claiming that the security at Indian Point, including the proper training for employees and condi-tions of dry cask storage, was "totally compromised." | |||
34 In 2010, New York State, citing the impacts of outdated cooling technology at Indian Point on the Hudson Riv-er's wildlife, denied Entergy's request for a water permit. According to the New York Department ofEnvironmen-tal Conservation, the "once-through" cooling system at Indian Point, which became obsolete in the 1970s, kills nearly a bUlion organisms per year as it draws 2.5 billion gallons of water a day. Furthermore, New York State also charged that Indian Point has polluted the Hudson River by leaking radioactive materials. | |||
35 Because a water quality certificate is a prerequisite for the 20-year renewal for Indi-an Point suggested by NRC, Entergy continues to appeal New York State's decision. | |||
Iflndian Point is shut down, New York City must acquire additional power generation and/or transmission. | |||
Several projects to build new cables to transfer energy from New Jersey to New York began in 2011, with a 660-megawatt cable from Ridgefield, N.J. to Manhattan and a 6.75 mile cable from Bayonne, N.J. to Con Edison's Gowanus sub-station. | |||
Governor Cuomo has also expressed support for a transmission line between Hydro Quebec, Canada and New York City. | |||
In 2011, NRDC and Riverkeeper commissioned consulting firm Synapse Energy Economics to assess the feasibility of replacing Indian' Point's power. The report found that Indian Point could be successfully replaced by the year 2022 with a combination of increased energy efficiency and new solar and wind development, repowering ex-isting older natural gas plants with new combined cycle plants, and new transmission lines36* Entergy and other proponents of relicensing Indian Protesters gather in Union Square in 2011 calling for Indian Point to be shut down. Point counter with a study by the Manhattan Institute Campaign for the Environment, Riverkeeper, which estimates that closing Indian Point could potentially Environmental Advocates of New York, and Scenic result in a $1.5 billion to $2.2 billion increase in energy Hudson, support Governor Cuomo's position and have costs and the loss of 26,000 to 40,000 jobs. 37 Currently, made the shutdown of Indian Point a priority. | |||
The Indian Indian Point has 1,200 employees and 200 contractors. | |||
The Point Safe Energy Coalition 40 includes dozens of smaller employee payroll is $130 million, and the plant contributes local environmental and civic groups opposed to Indian $363 million to local purchases. | |||
Another study by Ener-Point, focusing on grassroots organizing to pressure gy Strategies Inc. for the Westchester Business Alliance38 political officials to support the plant's shutdown. | |||
estimates that a high-efficiency natural gas plant would While the NRC's final decision on Indian Point's relicens-employ only twenty workers, and that even the best alter-ing remains unresolved, Governor Cuomo has actively native would raise the cost of electricity. | |||
39 Furthermore, pushed the New York Power Authority and Con Edison to Entergy has argued that replacing Indian Point with fossil prepare a contingency plan for the potential closure of the fuel power would lead to more air pollution, thereby exac-plant in 2015.41 erbating public health issues like asthma. g. [/) b Many of New York's largest environmental organizations, | |||
.8 0 5:; including the NRDC, Sierra Club, NYPIRG, Citizens Common Cause :\ew | |||
! page I l GENERATiNG lNflUENtE unduly shaped by the lobbying, campaign contributions, and publicity campaigns of Entergy Corporation. | |||
In addition to direct lobbying and campaign contribu-The decision to relicense or close Indian Point has major tions, Entergy has been actively organizing support among implications for energy, environmental, and public health New York City business organizations, labor unions, and policy in New York. It also has major implications for local communities in Westchester and the New York City Entergy Corporation | |||
-Indian Point is the single most through two coalitions-the New York Affordable Reliable important nuclear plant in their portfolio, representing Electricity Alliance (NY AREA) and Safe Healthy 20% of their nationwide nuclear generating capacity and Affordable Reliable Energy (SHARE). | |||
hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. | |||
NY AREA, chaired by former NYS Assemblyman Arthur Because Entergy's interest to keep the plant open is not necessarily the same as the public's | |||
: interest, it's important "Jerry" Kremer, has been successful in organizing power-ful business interests and labor unions like the Business to examine the role of lobbying, campaign contributions, Council for New York State, the New York State AFL-CIO, and other political influence activities in shaping the and the New York Building Congress in a united lobbying effort to keep Indian Point open. The SHARE Coalition led by Frank Fraley, an influential African-American political leader in Mount Vernon, has helped build sup-port for Indian Point among minority organizations and political leadership. | |||
The SHARE Coalition has also helped Entergy develop a relationship with the NAACP and other organizations in,, minority communities through funding and grassroots events. 42 debate over Indian Point. The final decision on Indian While these two coalitions maintain appearances of Point should be based on objective analysis of the costs independence, the groups' IRS filings43 and independent and benefits of the plant's continued operation, and not investigations 44 reveal that Entergy is the power behind the Figure 1 Entergy and Associated Coalitions: | |||
NYS Lobbying and Campaign Contributions by Election Cycle groups' foundation and continuing operation. | |||
As a result, our figures for Entergy's lobbying and campaign contribu-tions in New York State aggregate Entergy's direct activi-ties with those from NY AREA and Sfi:ARE. | |||
In the eight year period from 2005 to 2012, Entergy and its associated coalitions spent just over $4 million on lobbying at the New York State level. Figure 1 includes | |||
$2.99 million from Entergy, | |||
$777,000 from the SHARE Coalition, and $534,000 from NY AREA. During the same period, Entergy and its associated coali-tions made $573,225 in campaign contributions. | |||
$523,254 Iii Campaign Contributions | |||
*Lobbying Expenditures came directly from Entergy's political action committee, with the remainder from Entergy executives and NY AREA and SHARE employees and board membersd. | |||
Entergy officially launched its campaign to relicense Indian Point in November 2006, and since that date the company's aggregate New York State lobbying expendi-tures and campaign contributions have steadily increased, growing by roughly 33% each election cycle as the license expiration approaches. | |||
d $573,225 total campaign contributions from 2005 through 2012, includes | |||
$523,254 from Entergy's PAC, $6,505 from Entergy executives, | |||
$28,936 from Arthur Kremer (President of NY AREA), and $14,530 from Frank Fraley (President of SHARE Coalition) and SHARE board members. | |||
Common Cause i'Jn,* York i page: l3 I I I II I i I I f ! I i '* ! I ,, I i II i li !f It i ' ' | |||
'' l' Parkside Group LLC $1,318,811.11 | |||
: McMahon, a Weinraub, LLC $1,036,223.00 Featherstonhaugh, Wiley, Clyne a Cordo LLP $780,095.00 Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, | |||
: Edelman, a Dicker LLP $291,723.00 NY AREA Vidal Group .LLC Davidoff MaHto 8: Hutcher LLP Regional Programs Inc. SHARE Entergy Total spending increased from $706,403 in the 2006 cycle to $960,903 in the 2008 cycle, $1,249,018 in the 2010 cycle, and $1,666,747in the 2012 cycle. It is important to note that these totals do not fully capture all of Entergy's political spending. | |||
Entergy's public relations and grassroots campaign spending is not reported as lobbying, nor are its politically strategic donations to non-profits and local com-munity groups45 reported as political contributions. | |||
Since 2005, Entergy has engaged a total of six New York State lobbying firms. (see Table 1) NY AREA, led by influential former New York Assemblyman Arthur $210,849.00 | |||
$138,106.00 | |||
$120,000.00 | |||
$47,500.00 | |||
$43,577.78 | |||
$22,961.00 Kremer,46lobbies on its own behalf and via Kremer's firm Regional Programs Inc. The SHARE coalition lobbies on iti own behalf and is also represented by the Parkside Group LLC. Parkside Group LLC has been Entergy's top lobbyist since 2005, with $585,000 in spending from Entergy di-rectly and $733,811.11 from the SHARE coalition. | |||
Parkside is one of the mcist influential and well-connected lobbying and political consulting firms in the New York City met-ropolitan area47* The firm has consulted for two sitting Congressmen, fourteen State Senators, seventeen Assembly | |||
: members, and twelve New York City Councilmembers 48* page 1 '! / Generating Jnfluence: | |||
Politico I Spending and the Rattle over the lndion Point Nuckor Plan' Brown McMahon & Weinraub and Featherstonhaugh, Wiley, Clyne & Cordo have also been retainedby Entergy since 2005. In 2010, Entergy briefly retained | |||
: Davidoff, Malito, & Hutcher LLP. In July 2010, Entergy retained Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, the top lobbying firm in the state, and added The Vidal Group in 2011, bringing its currently retained New York State lobbyist total to five firms. | |||
MOt1EY Entergy's political contributions in New York State are highly concentrated on the State Legislature, the political parties' "soft money" accounts, and strategically chosen officials and committees in the Hudson Valley and New York City area. (see Figure 2) Figure 2 Entergy and Associated Coalitions NYS Campaign Contributions by Type: 2005-2012 I r: I ! : ! :' ! Entergy and Associated Coalitions: | |||
New York State Legislature Campaign Contributions by Type and Party Entergy has made very few contributions to the statewide offices of Governor, Attorney | |||
: General, and Comptroller. | |||
This pattern may be due to the fact that officials in these offices have generally been opponents of nuclear energy during this period. More than half of all Entergy contributions | |||
-over $308,000-went to the candidates and committees of the State Legislature (see Figure 3). In the State Senate, where party control has swung back and forth, total contributions to candidates are nearly evenly split between the parties. | |||
Iii Democrats | |||
-I DC *oemocrats | |||
* Republicans In the State Assembly, candidates in the Democratic majority have received the vast majority of contributions. | |||
These monies are split among a large number of candi-dates, mostly from Westchester and New York City. Of the roughly $14,000 in contributions to Republican Assembly | |||
: members, over went to Will Barclay, who rep-resents District 120 in Oswego County where Entergy's FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant is located. | |||
For the legislative committee "soft money" accounts, Entergy has steadily made donations ranging from $500 to $5,000 to the Senate Republicans' account multiple I,* times each year since 2005. The Assembly Democrats' soft the Senate Democrats and Assembly Republicans have money account has also received annual donations, while received comparatively less. lOP NEW YORK STATE-lEVEL RfCIPiENTS Table 2: Top New York State-Level Candidate Recipients of Entergy Contributions | |||
.;ifpp iNrs | |||
' :' Rttipients | |||
_ -* : f$5,0DOi:9 | |||
-' ' 1. Kevin Parker 2. David Paterson | |||
: 3. George Maziarz 4. William Barclay 5. Bill .Thompson | |||
$20,300.00 | |||
$20,000.00 | |||
$11,250.00 | |||
$11,100.00 | |||
$9,950.00 (continued on page 18) OEM 21 OEM REP 62 REP 120 OEM ilio.catinn | |||
' : Descrlptinn | |||
* Brooklyn Chair of Senate Energy (2009-2010)Ranking Member of Senate Energy (2011-2012). Firmly against the closure of Indian Point, believes it would result in dr-amatic increases in electricity rates49 Statewide Governor from 2008 -2010, previously lt. Governor and State Senator representing Har-I em. Supported the closure of Indian Point as lt. Governor and Governor50 Niagara County Chair of Senate Energy (2010-2012), | |||
strong supporter of Indian P.oint, believes its closure would result in dramatic | |||
.increases in electricity rates 51 Oswego County Assemblyman repn:senting Oswego County since 2002, unsuccessfully ran for State Sen-ate against Darryl Aubertine in 2008. Strong supporter of the nuClear industry and firmly against the closure -of Indian Point. 52 His law 1* firm, Hiscock and BarClay U:P, has represented Entergl3 in legal battles. | |||
New York City Candidate for NYC Mayor in 2009 and 2013. $3,500 directly from Entergy, | |||
$5,950 from SHARE Coalition President Frank Fraley and board member Michael *Nairne. | |||
(Table 2 continued: | |||
.i '"'-= . -* , -'-__ | |||
---_ -:-* ---_, -: * -+"" " -' - | |||
. , _,,,.,; . -' -.:--..,.<', 6. Dean Skelos $9,000.00 REP 9 Nassau Senate Majority leader in and 2010-2012, currently co-President of the Senate with Jeff Klein (D-lDC). | |||
: 7. Jim Wright $8,740.00 REP 48 North Chair of Senate Energy (2005-2007), | |||
suppo Country, of the nuclear industry. | |||
Retired fmm State Oswego Senate in December 2007, became lobbyist 1 County Government Relations, nc Executive Director of Development Authorit of the North Countrl4 8. Ruth | |||
$8,700.00 OEM 36 North Bronx, State Senator representing minority commu Westchester | |||
-nities in the North Bronx and Mount Vernor r Mount Vernon Does not have a vocal public position on lno Point I 9. Rob Astorino | |||
$8;650.00 REP Westchester Westchester County .Executive since 2009, I County formerly | |||
*a County legislator. | |||
Strong supper I, ! of Indian *Point and nuclear energl5* One o -Astorino's key staffers is a former Director I of Communications for Entergy and Astorino I i has bee.n accused of overly close ties to the I compa.nl6* II II $8;550.00 OEM Westchester-I' 10. James Gary Pretlow 89 Assemblyman representing minority commu ,, il Mount Vernon, nities .in Mount Vernon and Yonkers. | |||
Does n* !I ii Yonkers have a vocal*public.position on Indian Point *I !I ii 11; EliotSpitzer | |||
.$8,500.00 OEM Statewide Governor from 2007-2008, publically suppo ii II ed the closure of Indian *Point *as soon as th 'I ,, is sufficient replacement.power available." | |||
57 :f if: I 12. Dar.rylAubertine | |||
.$8;100.00 OEM 48 Oswego State Senator defeated in 2010 election by I County Pattie Ritchie." | |||
Strong supporter ofthe.nucle I, industry and of building an additional reactt I,; *in Oswego 58* 13. Michael Gianar.is | |||
$6,250.00 OEM 12 Queens State$enator representing | |||
: Astoria, Queens. Silpporter.of | |||
*nuclear energy. and Indian Po in believes it is a good *alternative to "pollution spewing" | |||
*fossil fuel plantss9 14. Greg Ball $6;050.00 REP 40 Westchester, State Senator representing Indian Point's Putnam, location in Buchanan, supporter* | |||
of the *nucle Dutchess industry. | |||
Against the closure of Indian Point Counties believes it would result' in dramatic increase! | |||
electricity rates60 page J 8 I Generating Influence: | |||
Entergy's Political Spending and liw Battk over the Indian Pnint Nuclear* | |||
Power Plant | |||
) j l I j I I I I ! I I ,; Entergy is highly strategic and targeted in its campaign coalition, is a former Chief of Staff to former Mount contributions, with geography (proximity to one of their Vernon Mayor Ernie Davis and is currently the President New York plants) and policy position on nuclear energy of the Mount Vernon Chamber ofCommerce. | |||
61 In addition playing a major role in disbursement of contributions. | |||
to the contributions to State Senator Hassell-Thompson and Assemblyman | |||
: Pretlow, Entergy and Mr. Fraley have Looking at the top New York State candidate recipients, contributed a total of $2,890 to the Mount Vernon City many are in positions of power or influence relative to ---*--------* | |||
The company appears to be using its can1paign contributions as a strategic rneans of cultivating and developing relationships with supporters of its position in favor of nuclear energy. -------*- | |||
---either Indian Point in northern Westchester or the Committee, | |||
$2,600 to Mayor Clinton Young, and $1,250 to FitzPatrick nuclear plant in Oswego County. Most, Mayor Ernie Davis. including Kevin Parker, George Maziarz, Will Barclay, It is also particularly striking that the most vocal Jim Wright, Rob Astorino, Darryl Aubertine, Michael opponents of Indian Point, including Governor Andrew Gianaris, and Greg Ball, are also on the record as Cuomo, Chair of the Assembly Energy Committee Kevin supporters of nuclear energy. Cahill63, and former Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, have Bill Thompson, Ruth Hassel-Thompson, and James Gary received ZERO contributions from Entergy. | |||
It is often Pretlow are not outspoken on the issue of Indian Point and more typical for special interests to donate to whoever has nuclear power but these donations appear to be part of power over decision-making, regardless of policy stance. Entergy's concerted strategy to build support among the The company appears to be using its campaign contribu-minority communities of Westchester and New York City. Mount Vernon seems a particular target of this approach. | |||
tions as a strategic means of cultivating and developing relationships with supporters of its position in favor Frank Fraley, the President of the SHARE of nuclear energy. CorrHnon Cause >.;e,,v York \ p2gc l9 TOP NE STATf-ltVtl COMMIJTEt/PAC RECIPIENTS Of ENTERCY CONTRIBUTIONS Table 3: Top New York State-Level Committee/PAC Recipients of Entergy Contributions | |||
: 1. NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee | |||
, 2. NYS Democratic Committee | |||
$52,200.00 | |||
: 3. Westchester Republican County Committee | |||
$39,000.00 | |||
: 4. JPPNY-PAC $24,000.00 | |||
: 5. NYS Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee | |||
$20,250.00 | |||
: 6. NYS Democratic Senate Campaign Committee | |||
$15,300.00 | |||
: 7. Republican Assembly Campaign Committee | |||
$8,750.00 | |||
: 8. New York Republican State Committee | |||
$5,500.00 | |||
: 9. Westchester County Democratic Committee | |||
$3,800.00 | |||
: 10. Bronx Democratic County Committee | |||
$3,150.00 OEM REP | |||
* OEM OEM REP REP OEM OEM Statewide* | |||
Westchester Statewide Statewide Statewide Statewide Statewide Westchester Bronx soft money campaign account New York State . Democratic Party soft money account Westchester County Republicans' soft .money account Independent Power Producers of New York: power plant owners' trade ciation Assembly Democrats'. | |||
soft money campaign account Senate Democrats' soft money campaign account Assembly licans' soft money campaign account New York State Republican Party soft money account Westchester County Democrats' soft money account Bronx County Democrats' soft money account (continued on page 21 uage 20 Generating lntlucnce: | |||
fcnterg;/s p(,Jiticai Spending and the Battle over the Indian Point i\'uclear Power Plant (Table 3 continued) | |||
Pac formed by Re-w 11. Common Sense Now PAC $3,100.00 | |||
"{REP) Statewide publican County Executive Rob Astorino's Chlef of Staff George Oros 12. Energy for New York PAC $3;000.00 | |||
.. Statewide PAC of the Energy Association of NYS -.. trade association of utilities that disband-ed in 2010 .13. Mount Vernon City Committee | |||
$2,890.00 OEM Mount Democratic. | |||
club in Vernon Mount Vernon -$2.490 of this tota I is from frank 'Fraley, head of the SHARE Coalif10n. | |||
: 14. The IDC Initiative | |||
$2,500;00 OEM-Statewide Independent Demo-IDC cratic Conference's soft money account 15. The Business Council PAC Inc. $2,250.00 | |||
.. Statewide Primary statewide business association in NYS Entergy's donations to committees and PACs in New York soft money account, | |||
$8,650 to County Executive Rob State are also highly targeted. | |||
(See Table 3) In addition to Astorino, | |||
$4,000 to County Legislator John Testa (former the already discussed State Legislature soft money, Entergy Mayor of Peekskill, currently represents the Peekskill-has given over $52,000 to the New York State Democratic Buchanan Indian Point district), | |||
$1,700 to former Yonkers Committee account and $5,500 to the New York Mayor Phil Amicone, and $800 to the Cortlandt Republi-Republican State Committee. | |||
can Committee. | |||
Entergy has been very generous to the Westchester Entergy has also given $3,100 to the "Common Sense Republican County Committee, contributing a total of Now" PAC formed by County Executive Astorino's Chief $57,250 since 2005 to party candidates, committees, and of Staff George Oros,63 who formerly represented the PACs. This total includes | |||
$39,000 to the Westchester GOP Peekskill and Buchanan areas in the County Legislature. | |||
Common Cause New York I page 21 Astorino is a longtime supporter of Indian Point dating back to his time in the County Legislature and replaced Andy Spano (D), a firm opponent oflndian Point, as County Executive in 2010.64 Astorino's Director of Economic Development, Larry Gottleib, was the Director of Communications for Entergy before joining Astorino's administration. | |||
As a County Legislator in 2005, Astorino was accused of adopting talking points on Indian Point directly from an email exchange with Mr. Gottleib at Entergy65* Considering these deep ties to Mr. Astorino, it is not sur-prising that county and local level Democrats in West-chester have received far less support in campaign contri-butions from Entergy, a total of $11,100 since 2005. This includes | |||
$3,800 for the Westchester County Democratic Committee, | |||
$2,750 for County Legislator Ken Jenkins, | |||
$3,000 for current Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, and $1,550 for the Peekskill Democratic City Committee. | |||
Entergy has also given $24,000 to the political action com-mittee ofthe Independent Power Producers of New York (IPPNY), | |||
and $2,250 to the PAC of the Business Council of New York State, two influential business associations that support the renewal of Indian Point's licenses. | |||
In addition to contributing to these political action committees, newly available disclosures on the funding of 50lc4 organiza-tions66 reveal that Entergy has contributed | |||
$3,659 directly to the Business Council coffers in the second half of 2012, and $3,294 directly to IPPNY in December 2012. Both organizations are advisory board members of NY AREA and have been a constant presence advocating for Indian Point at governmental hearings and in the media.67 lE ll,[ 111 Rl Entergy's strategy of building support for Indian Point and nuclear power among key business and labor sectors through the NY AREA and SHARE coalitions has been quite successful in winning powerful allies. Supporters of Entergy's two connected coalitions (NY AREA and SHARE) include many of the most influential business organizations and labor unions in the state. Organizations represented on the NY AREA advisory board that lobby and/or contribute in New York include Boilermakers Local #5, the Business Council ofWestches-ter, the Business Council of New York State, the New York State AFL-CIO, and the Partnership for New York City. Member organizations of SHARE that lobby and/or con-* tribute in New York include the International Union of Operating Engineers | |||
: Locall4, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 16, the Mason Figure 4 Opponents of Indian Point vs. Supporters of Indian Point (not including Entergy) | |||
NYS Lobbying and Campaign Contributions: | |||
2005 --2012 Iii Campaign Contributions | |||
** .*11 | |||
.. . . | |||
* *. Common New York I page 23 Tenders District | |||
: Council, the New York City District Council of Carpenters, New York State Laborers, andRe-gional Aid for Interim Needs, a social service organization based in the Bronx. Altogether, these organizations have spent $11.2 million on lobbying in New York State and $6.05 million in campaign contributions since 2005. These organizations are in-valved in a multitude of policy issues of which policy on Indian Point may only be a secondary or tertiary concern. | |||
Nevertheless, these numbers do provide an indicator of the significant clout these supporting business associations and labor unions have in New York. Overall, organizations in support of Entergy's position on Indian Point (as indicated by membership in NY AREA or SHARE) have spent nearly three times. as much on NY AREA Chairman Jerry Kremer speaks at a press conference with labor and business allies in advance of the October 2012 NRC hearing.69 lobbying and campaign contributions than the numerous environmental and civic organizations that have advocated for the plant's closure. | |||
Organizations that oppose Indian Point and have lob-hied and/or have board members or employees that have contributed at the New York State or local level include the Children's Health Fund, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Citizens Environmental Coalition, Environ-mental Advocates of New York, Healthy Schools Network, NRDC, NYPIRG, Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, and the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. | |||
Altogether, environmental and civic groups opposing the renewal of Indian Point's license have spent $4.4 million on lobbying and affiliated employees and board members have spent $1.49 million on campaign contributions. | |||
page 24 f Jniluencc: | |||
Poiit!cd Spend!nt: | |||
tht O':cr the Fo\ver Plant l decommissioning, and certification of nuclear plants and also develops and enforces regulations. | |||
Congress crafts key While state and local support are crucial factors in deter-policies such as federal loan guarantees and other subsi-mining policy on issues such as the opening or closing of dies and supports. | |||
70 The civilian nuclear power industry a power plant, federal energy policy sets the framework in is deeply enmeshed in the federal government and has which these decisions are made. tremendous stakes in federal energy policy decisions. | |||
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, headed by five Com-At the federal level across the nation, Entergy and its missioners appointed by the President and confirmed by executives have donated roughly $4.17 million71 to can-the Senate for five year terms,69 oversees licensing, | |||
: didates, PACS, and committees since 2005. (see Figure 5) Entergy: | |||
Total Federal lobbying and Campaign Contributions Figure 5 liCampaign Contributions | |||
* Lobbying Expenditures This sum includes nearly one million dollars to the parties' Senate and Congressional campaign committees | |||
-roughly a quarter million each to the National Republican Con-gressional Committee, the Democratic Congressional | |||
: Campaign, Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. | |||
also gave over $160,000 combined to Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu (D) and two affiliated PACs, and roughly $60,000 to Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor (D) and his iated PAC. Former Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln (D) and her PAC received | |||
$74,000 from Entergy and became a board member after losing re-election in 2010.75 Former Louisiana Blue Dog Democrat turned Republican turned At the federal level across the Entergy and its executives have donated roughly $4. 7 7 tnillion to candidates! | |||
PACS, and con1mittees since 2005. -'-------*--------------***---------- | |||
Other large committee recipients of Entergy funding at the include two influential industry lobbying | |||
: outfits, the Nuclear Energy Institute | |||
($138,250) and the Edison Electric Institute | |||
($92,000). | |||
Entergy also has close ties with the US Chamber of Commerce. | |||
Board member Stuart Levenick, a Group President at Caterpillar, is on the executive board of the US Chamber,72 which supports the renewal of Indian Point's license73 and has filed amicus briefs in support of Entergy in nuclear iegal cases74* Entergy is a very active support of centrist and conserva-tive-leaning congressional Democrats, giving $160,000 combined to the Blue Dog PAC, the Moderate Demo-crats PAC, and the New Democrat Coalition. | |||
Entergy lobbyist Billy Tauzin, notorious for his role as a lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry during the drafting of the Affordable Care Acf6, is also on the Entergy board of directors. | |||
Other top recipients include Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson (D) ($69,749) and his affiliated PAC, President Obama and affiliated PACs ($65,400), | |||
Texas Congressman Joe Barton (R) ($49,500), | |||
the Chairman Emeritus of House Energy and his affiliated PAC, Steny Hoyer (D) and his affiliated PACs ($40,500), | |||
Michigan Congressman Fred Upton (R) ($39,600), | |||
the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn (D) and his PAC page 26 I Generating Influence: | |||
Entergy's Politicnl Spending and tbc Battk over the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant | |||
($22,500), | |||
and the Congressional Black Caucus ($20,000). | |||
Since 2005, Entergy has spent a total of roughly $31.4 million lobbying the federal government, retaining a total of eighteen lobbying firms. These firms include such heavy hitters as the Breaux Lott Leadership Group, Daryl Owen Associates, McGlotten | |||
& Jarvis, Patton Boggs LLP, and Quinn Gillespie, and are armed with dozens of influential revolving-door Washington insiders. | |||
Entergy's combined lobbying and campaign con-tributions increased by 57% for the 2008 cycle compared to the 2006 cycle. Spending continued to increase another 17% for the 2010 cycle before decreasing by 10% in the 2012 cycle. Exelon, and Duke Energy have aggressively moved to reha-bilitate the industry's reputation in order to secure license The significant bump in spending between 2006 and 2008 renewals, construct new reactors at existing plant sites, is consistent with a pattern within the nuclear industry and open the possibility of new plant construction. | |||
Much as a whole. Over the past decade, the industry has under-of this national effort is coordinated through the Nuclear taken a concerted campaign to improve its standing with the public and political establishment, especially with Energy Institute. | |||
78 "' &, the Democratic Party, as a "clean" greenhouse gas emis-For Entergy specifkally, the surge in political spending on f'" 0 I Q ..... "' "' sions-free alternative to fossil fuels.77 With the industry the federal level after the 2006 cycle is also likely connect-(!) :;s s suffering enormous damage from the Three Mile Island ed to three ongoing politically challenging license renewals 0 u <.,..; ,., <') partial-meltdown in 1979 and the Chernobyl disaster in in the Northeast US; the Pilgrim Nuclear Plant in N -1986, no new nuclear plants have been built in the United Massachusetts, the Vermont Yankee Plant, and most .8 0 ..<:: 0... States since 1977. Corporate plant owners like Entergy, significantly, Indian Point in New York. | |||
CAMPAIGN CONTRiBUTiONS TO NE £0NCRESSIONAL As the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's decision on 2005-2008, Kirsten Gillibrand 2008-Present) and ten of the Indian Point's operating licenses approaches, Entergy has state's Congress members have received at least $5,000 in significantly increased its campaign contributions to New campaign contributions from Entergy. | |||
York candidates at the federal level. Since 2005, Entergy and its executives have contributed a total of $158,170 to The list of top New York congressional recipients of New York Senators and Congress members. | |||
Entergy contributions is again illustrative of the During this period, each of New York's three sitting company's highly strategic and targeted method of distributing campaign cash. Senators (Chuck Schumer 2005-Present, Hillary Clinton Figure 6 Entergy: | |||
Federal Campaign Contributions to New York Congressional Candidates | |||
*campaign Contributions page 28 / Generating Influence: | |||
Entergy's PoliticaJ Spending and the Battle over the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Tabfe 4: Top New York Congressional Candidate Recipients of Entergy Donations _ | |||
( -' -! '' -r / ' -'I J-' >, I ' 1. Nan Hayworth | |||
: 2. Edolphus Towns 3. Kirsten Gillibrand | |||
: 4. Peter King 5. Joseph Crowley 6 .. John McHugh 7. Bill Owens B. Michael McMahon $23,200.00 REP $14,000.00 OEM $14,000.00 OEM $11,000.00 REP $9,500.00 OEM $8,500.00 REP $8,000.00 OEM $7,250.00 OEM 19 Hudson Valley (now 18) 10 Brooklyn (now 8) | |||
* Statewide 3 and 2 Long Island 7 and 14 Que.ens, Bronx 23 North Country, (now 21) Oswego 23 and21 North Country, | |||
* Oswego ; 13 Staten Island, (now 11) South Brooklyn Congressional district numbers in New York State all changed after the state lost two districts during the redistricting of 2011. (continued on page 30) District induded the Indian Point site in Buchanan. | |||
Before losing a close race in 2012, Hayworth was a vocal supporter of Entergy and Indian Point. 79 Before retiring in 2012, Ed Towns was an 'mfluen-tial senior member of Congress and a member of the energy committee. | |||
In 2007 he co-sponsored legislation to expedite the Yucca Mountain nuclear was disposal | |||
: facility, a measure strongly supported by the industry80 New York's junior Senator, Gillibrand supports the nu-clear ind ustr.y and favors development of new plants where they are supported by local communities, while also advocating for additional oversight 81* Senior Republican Congressman in New York, two time Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. | |||
Supports expanding nuclear energy "in areas of the country that don't have evacuation concerns 82" Senior Democratic Congressman, Chair ofthe Queens County Democratic Party. Supporter of nuclear energy <md a key figure .in the United States' recognition of India as a legitimate nuClear power. Continues to support the *entry of US nuclear companies into the Indian market83* Former Congressman representing the North Country and Oswego from 2003 to 2009, strong supporter of nuclear energy and Entergy's FitzPatrick plant84 Represented. | |||
Oswego *until 2012 redistricting, sup-porter of nuelear energy and of building new nuclear plants in the North Country85 Former Congressman representing Staten Island from 2008-2010, supporter of the nuclear power,86 co-sponsored the Nuclear Power 2021 Act to encour-age the develllpment of a new generation of plants. 87 (Table 4 continued) | |||
: 9. Scott Murphy . $7,000.00 OEM 20 Hudson Valley, Winner of the 2009 Special Election to replace (now 19) Catskills, North Kirsten Gillibrand, lost his re-election effort in 2010. Country Strong supporter of the nuclear industry, co-spon-sored the Nuclear Power 2021 Act to encourage the development of a new generation of plants. Strong supporter | |||
.of the nuclear industry, co-sponsored the Nuclear Power.2021 Act to .encourage the develop-ment of a new generation of .plants. | |||
88 10. Chuck Schumer $7,000.00 DEM | |||
* Statewide New York's senior Senator .arid the third-rankiJlg Senate Democrat in the nation. Generally supportive | |||
.of the nucl.ear | |||
: industry, stated "I'm still 'Willing to look at nuclear" after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Has supported | |||
*additional safety measures at Indian Point but does not call for the plant's closure. | |||
89 11. Hillary Clinton $6,220.00 OEM | |||
* Statewide New York Senator from 2001 through 2009. Self described "agnostiC" on nuclear power. Supported increased regulation and safety measures at Indian Point but has called for the. plant's closure.90 . . Her :2008: Presidential campaign received an addition-al :$20,000 in Enter,gy donations. | |||
: 12. Charles Rangel $5,500.00 OEM 15 and 13 Upper In Coil,gress since 1971,was briefly one ofthe most Manhattan | |||
*powerful Congr.essional Democrats as Chairman of Ways and Means from 2007 to 2010 before an ethics scandal. | |||
: 13. Steve Israel $5,000.00 DEM 2 and 3 long Island In 2001. currently chair of the DCCC. Supporter nudear industry and its expansion 91 page 30 Influence: | |||
Enterg,*s Political Spending and the Battle over the lndim Point Nuclear Power Plant The top recipient of Entergy contributions, Nan Hayworth (R), | |||
$23,200 entirely during the 2012 election cycle. This sum includes | |||
$9,700 from Entergy executives and $14,000 from the Entergy PAC. Representing the Hudson Valley district that includes Indian Point (District 19 before redistricting, now District 18), Hayworth was a freshman incumbent who was vocal in her support for the renewal of the plant's license. | |||
Her opponent (now the new Congressman for the district) | |||
Sean Patrick Maloney (D), was strongly against the license renewal, preferring to "close Indian Point as quickly as possible." | |||
92 Mr. Maloney did not receive any support from Entergy, nor have other vocal anti-Indian Point tatives such as Congressman Eliot Engel, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, and former Congressman John Hall. Indeed, at both the state and the federal levels in New York, Entergy's contribution patterns appear to be closely tied to the recipient's issue stance on nuclear power. This pattern is consistent with Hall and Deardorff's model of "Lobbying as a Legislative Subsidy93" in which lobbying a.nd contributions are primarily used to cultivate and fortify supporters rather than attempting to "flip" those in opposition. | |||
But the correlation between support for the issue and reward in the form of campaign contributions may play a role in influencing the stances of candidates, particularly those without strong ideological predispositions. | |||
Two of the New York Congressmen on this list also have additional connections to Entergy. | |||
Christopher nell served as Congressman Joe Crowley's Chief of Staff from 1999 to 2007.94 While in Crowley's office, nell worked to build support for Indian Point and nuclear energy among other House Democrats. | |||
95 McCannell then moved through the revolving door to become a lobbyist for Quinn Gillespie | |||
& Associates in 2007 and lobbied on behalf of Entergy Nuclear Northeast, presumably on the very same Indian Point issue.96 McCannell then passed back through the revolving door to become Chief of Staff for Congressman Michael McMahon, a one-term ber from Staten Island who also was a strong supporter of nuclear energy. Christopher McCannell's revolving door journey is just one indication of the kind of influence and access that $31.4 million in and $4.2 million in campaign contributions can achieve in Washington. | |||
the Year award for their work on the campaign. | |||
100 Indian Point's public website, www.safesecurevital.org, continues to be owned and maintained by Burson Marsteller. | |||
101 The firm has also helped coordinate Entergy's outreach and relationship-building with non-profit organizations in Entergy's direct lobbying and campaign contributions only Westchester and New York City.102 cover a portion of its influence-making activities. | |||
In addi-tion to this "inside game" there is also the "outside game" Entergy's advertising campaigns are ubiquitous across the of grassroots strategies and advertising to build public New York City metropolitan region. For nearly a decade, support. | |||
Such expenses are not disclosed in official report-New York Yankees radio host John Sterling has reassured listeners that Indian Point is "safe, secure, and vital" with ing, yet they are an essential aspect of Entergy's campaign "zero greenhouse gases and reliable energy." | |||
Since 2003, to keep Indian Point open. former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's consulting Entergy's advertising and public relations on Indian Point firm, Giuliani | |||
: Partners, has been retained by Entergy!03 are coordinated by public relations firm Burson Marsteller, ostensibly to "provide advice on emergency planning and known for its work in "reputation and crisis management security matters." | |||
strategies. | |||
97" The firm's clients have included highly con-troversial corporations like Union Carbide, Philip Morris, However, Giuliani's support for Indian Point and Entergy's other nuclear plants has always been very public and he Blackwater, | |||
: Foxconn, and Babcock & Wilcox (the firm that designed the Three Mile Island nuclear plant) among others98* Entergy initially hired Burson Enterg)/s advertising and public relations on Indian Point are coordinated by public relations finn Burson Marstellet; known for its work in and crisis tnanagement strategies. | |||
97" Marsteller in 2002 to address fears over Indian Point's vulnerability to terrorism after Sep-has appeared at numerous press conferences and events on tember l11h.99 Burson Marsteller coined the slogan "Safe, behalf ofEntergy. | |||
104 After the 20ll FuJmshima | |||
: incident, Secure, Vital" and won the Public Affairs Campaign of Giuliani began to directly appear in television, radio, and print advertisements as part of Entergy's "Right for New York" campaign to reassure the public on nuclear safety.105 Currently, Entergy is also running a more locally targeted campaign called "Your Positive Energy."106 In one radio Rudy Giuliani in Entergy's "Right for New York" Campaign advertisement, a woman's voice announces "Indian Point is committed to ensuring the continued supply of reliable clean and affordable energy for all New Yorkers. | |||
We are focused on bringing positive energy into communities | |||
... We need your voice; we need your positive energy. Go to YourPositiveEnergy.com to tell us how you are bringing positive energy into New York."107 In another less formal spot, the DJ for Westchester radio station WFAS raves "What an afternoon that I spent terday with my colleagues up at Indian Point ... you really need more than a day, it's like going to Disney World, you can't see it all in one day .. .if you're concerned about Indian Point and you have questions, there's a lot of tions, knowledge is the key."108 Although these advertisements are clearly designed to influence public opinion (and thus public officials) these campaigns are not legally considered "lobbying" because they do not explicitly ask the public to contact their sentatives to advocate for cific legislation or policy on Indian Point. Entergy does not disclose their cost as lobby-ing expenses. | |||
But the website these ads direct the public to, www.safesecurevital.org, offers detailed information on the license renewal process and public hearings. | |||
The line between public relations and lobbying is increasingly blurred as corporate advertising campaigns and grassroots strategies grow more and more sophisticated. | |||
Considering the consistency, volume, and breadth of the advertising and comparing it with itemized expenses from similar campaigns in New York State109, it is conservative to estimate that Entergy has spent at least $20 million on advertising and public relations in New York since 2005. | |||
Entergy's campaign to build local support for Indian Point has also involved numerous grants and targeted donations to local government and non-profit organizations. | |||
In 2009, Entergy established a "Safety Responders Fund" grant program that has awarded over $1.25 million in grants to local fire, police,*and emergency medical response teams within the 10 mile area around Indian Point.U0 In tion, Entergy gives small grants to a variety of non-profit organizations in the area, from youth sports leagues, to performing arts venues, to local parksY' Many of these organizations have testified at public hearings on behalf of Entergy's corporate citizenship in support of granting Indian Point a license extension 112* As mentioned earlier in this report; one aspect of Entergy's strategy to influence public opinion on Indian Point is to build support among communities of color in Westchester and New York City. In recent years, Entergy has oped relationships with many non-profit civil rights and community organizations such as 100 Black Men, the New York State NAACP, and the Bronx Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. | |||
Entergy has had success in winning over many of these groups based on the argument that shutting down Indian Point will require construction of new fossil fuel plants in the area. New fossil fuel plants will reduce air quality, especially in urban areas with large minority populations where air quality is already problematic and asthma and other respiratory illnesses are prevalent. | |||
In making this argument, Entergy has adopted the rhetoric of the environmental justice movement, 113 creating an fective framework for winning support. | |||
But this argument depends on the alternative to Indian Point being fossil fuel plants rather than new transmission from hydropower in Canada or other renewable energy alternatives. | |||
And Entergy has built relationships with these organizations through grants,114 sponsoring events,115 and other forms of monetary support.116 Entergy and its consultants also realize that an mental justice argument may be less than convincing coming directly from the corporation itself. This is where the SHARE (Safe, Healthy, Affordable, Reliable Energy) Coalition plays a role in creating the appearance that the argument is originating from a grassroots source within the minority community rather than Entergy. | |||
In 2010, journalist Brian Palmer writing for lines.com, a publication of the Applied Research Center, undertook an in-depth investigation ofEntergy's astroturfing in New York's communities of color. On a tour of Indian Point for minority leaders organized by SHARE, Palmer observed deliberate attempts by SHARE employees to use race as a wedge to delegitimize nuclear environmental groups like Riverkeeper. | |||
''I've never seen Bobby Kennedy walk around 125th Street .. .I'm sure he's never come down when the lights go out" said SHARE's Deputy Director Gregory Joseph. Frank T. Fraley, President of SHARE NY, leading Brooklyn Clergy members on a tour ofindian Point in JuJy, 2012.117 SHARE attempts to portray itself as a coalition of community groups working on issues of clean air and affordable electricity in generaP18* The group authors op-eds, press releases, and testimonies without reference to their funding by Entergy, 119 describing the organization as "a coalition dedicated to ensuring the continued supply of reliable, clean and affordable electricity for all New Yorkers." | |||
But Entergy consultants and executives are listed as officers in SHARE's IRS filings.120 New York lobbyist Alfredo Vidal (The Vidal Group, retained by Entergy) is listed as President, Darren Peters (Entergy's Director of Federal Policy Initiatives) is listed as Treasurer, and Joanne Fernandez (Entergy's head of government affairs in New York) is listed as secretary. | |||
SHARE also retains The SHARE and Entergy staff use the same table to lobby at the NYS Black, Puerto-Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus in February 2013.101 Parkside Group as its New York lobbyist, a firm that also represents Entergy. | |||
Judging from SHARE's own news feedf it is very clear that the group's purpose is to advocate for the extension of Indian Point's license. | |||
In addition to testifying and orga-nizing turnout at public hearings, the group has repeatedly organized tours of Indian Point for minority community leaders122. Colorlines' Palmer attended one of these tours and observed that the intimate relationship between SHARE and Entergy was never disclosed to the guests.123 The SHARE coalition is not Entergy's first attempt to create a front group for outreach to minority communities. | |||
In 2003 Entergy engaged in the very same strategy called ' the "Campaign for Affordable Energy, Environmental, and Economic Justice"124 but was exposed and widely criticized in the media and by then County Executive Andy Spano.125 f httpdlshareny.orglnews.php | |||
. In 2012, 9 out of 17 press releases issued by SHARE directly addressed Indian Point or Entergy, and an additional one is a testimony against Governor Cuomo's proposed "Energy Highway" of transmission from Canada (which would help replace the power provided by Indian Point). The other seven releases are descriptions of community events that SHARE has participated in to spread its message. | |||
(http:/!sharenv.orglnews.php | |||
.) | |||
In this earlier instance, Entergy used its direct corporate name and its own employees to conduct parts of the paign, leading to a backlash from the communities and representatives that were targeted. | |||
The SHARE campaign has been much more tactful. | |||
While the SHARE coalition serves as Entergy's grassroots front group, NY AREA (Affordable Reliable Electrici-ty Alliance) serves the role of the grasstops front group, bringing together powerful statewide business and labor groups in support of Indian Point. NY AREA's Chairman is former Assemblyman Arthur "Jerry" Kremer, a constant presence in the media, writing op-eds126, speaking on els, and issuing policy briefs in support of Indian Point. Entergy's spokespeople have admitted thanhe company was "instrumental in the founding of New York AREA,127" which launched in 2006 with the commencement of Entergy's campaign to renew Indian Point's license. | |||
As is the case with SHARE, Entergy executives are listed as officers in NY AREA's IRS filings.128 In this case it's Ken Theobalds, Entergy Nuclear Northeast's Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs. | |||
John Basile, a retired former plant manager of Indian Point 2, is also listed as an officer129* Another officer listed in NY AREA's IRS filings is Mark Serrano of ProActive Communications. | |||
Shortly after NY AREA was started, an organization named "Massachusetts | |||
_AREA'' also sprung up to advocate for the renewal of the license at Entergy's Pilgrim nuclear plant. And a "Vermont Energy Partnership" appeared to advocate for Entergy's Vermont Yankee license renewal. | |||
All three groups used ProActive Communications to handle their public tions, in some cases sharing the exact wording of als, and all three groups made use of former Green peace activist Patrick Moore as a spokesperson 130* Like SHARE, NY AREA's press releases and other rials are overwhelmingly focused on support for nuclear power and Indian Point,I3! | |||
and NY AREA spokespeople do not typically disclose their group's intimate connection with Entergy. | |||
Both SHARE and NY AREA are registered with the IRS as SOle 6 organizations, a status reserved for business or trade associations lobbying for a common business interest of all members in the organization 132* The IRS requires SOle 6 groups to define the "common business interest" in the Form 990 filings. | |||
SHARE defines their purpose as "to educate and ensure the continued supply of reliable, clean, and affordable energy for all New Yorkers." | |||
NY AREA defines their purpose as promoting "safe and reliable energy sources." | |||
The SOle 6 status effectively veils the role ofEntergy in each group because funding can be ed to "membership dues" without specifying what specific A*R*E*A ' gj! Yes! I want to join the Massachusetts Affordable Reliable Electridty Alliance. | |||
1 support your efforts to educate communities regarding the necessity for safe, reliable energy and advocacy to ensure that Massachusetts has an ample and reliabie electricity supply and economic prosperity for years to come .... Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution of: Yes ! 1 want to join the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance. | |||
'I support your efforts to educate communities regarding the necessity for sa'k, reliable energy and advocacy to ensure that New York. has an ample and reliable electricity supply and economic prosperity for years to come."' Enclosed is my deductible contribution of: Yes! I want to join the Vermont Energy Partnership I support your efforts to educate communitieli regarding the necessity for safe, reliable energy and advocacy to ensure that Vermont has an ample and reliable electricity supply and emnomic prosperity for years to come.* Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution of: Newsletters for Mass AREA, NY AREA, and the Vermont Energy Partnership share identical language and in the case of MASS AREA and Nl' AREA, identical graphic design. members are contributing. | |||
Both SHARE and NY AREA report a range of $300,000 to $700,000 in "membership dues" annually for the past three years in their Form 990 IRS filings. | |||
Corporate use of "front groups" like SHARE and NY AREA, also known as "astroturfing", | |||
is an increasingly common tool in efforts to influence public opinion and policy makersY4 Front groups are effective because they conceal the corporation's self-interest, giving legitimacy to arguments and tactics that would not be as effective if made by the corporation directly135* Through advertising, retaining respected spokespeople, engaging in strategic charitable giving, and astroturfing at the grassroots and grasstops, Entergy has deployed all of the state-of-the-art techniques in lobbying and public relations in its attempt to win renewal of Indian Point's license. | |||
Common Cause New York \ page 37 Policy decisions such the relicensing of an aging nuclear power plant are supposed to be objective judgments based in science and the best interest of the public. In reality, powerful vested interests constantly seek to influence the outcomes through whatever means neces-sary and available. | |||
Special interests like Entergy have every right to communicate their views to policymakers and the public. But without full transparency, disclosure, and rea-sonable limits and safeguards, they can too easily achieve undue influence and subvert our democratic processes and principles. | |||
Entergy's expansive pattern of political spend-ing illustrates the need for our laws and regulations deal-ing with political spending to keep pace with the activities of those who seek to influence public policy. Restore the Public Trust with Fafr Elections It is unsettling to consider the possibility that campaign contributions from Entergy may play a role in determining our leaders' policy positions on such an important issue. Looking at the top New York recipients, it's clear that En-tergy uses campaign contributions to cultivate supporters of nuclear energy. While it's impossible to prove that con-tributions literally "buy" votes, such correlations may play a role in influencing the stances of candidates, particularly those without strong ideological predispositions. | |||
At the New York state level, campaign finance reform with public financing of elections would significantly help reduce candidates' dependency on raising money through large checks from special interests like Entergy. | |||
A Fair Elections comprehensive campaign finance system, with small individual donations matched 6 to 1 by public money, provides candidates an incentive to raise the campaign funds they need directly from constituents in smaller amounts. | |||
t s, ann pr En As corporate "astroturfing" 136 and "dark money"137 contributions continue to grow, corporate disclosures of political spending must be expanded to keep pace with actual practice in the information marketplace. | |||
For pub-lically owned companies like Entergy, it is possible that new political disclosure rules will soon be instituted at the federal level by the SEC.138 Absent SEC action, shareholder resolutions are another means of compelling a public company to fully disclose political spending. | |||
Shareholder resolutions calling for disclosure of political spending are rapidly becoming more common, with 115 such resolutions up for consideration in the Spring 2013 quarterP9 Entergy is one of the corporations facing such a resolution, calling for full disclosure of "company poli-cy and procedures governing | |||
: lobbying, both direct and indirect, and grassroots lobbying communications" and all "payments by Entergy used for (a) direct or indirect lobbying or (b) grassroots lobbying communications, in each case including the amount of the payment and the recipient." | |||
Entergy's board is unanimously opposing the resolution, claiming that such reporting would be "unduly burden-some"; that the company follows all state and federal disclosure regulations and already self-discloses its polit-ical contributions through an annual report.140 However, Entergy's current self-reporting is highly misleading and incomplete-it does not report giving by its PAC (the source of the vast majority of Entergy donations), | |||
its lobby-ing expenditures, or its role in contributing to front groups like NY AREA and SHARE. State and local governments can also act to compel addi-tional disclosures of corporate political spending. | |||
In New York, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is using the investing power of the state's pension fund as leverage in his attempts to increase disclosures. | |||
141 New York State also recently began enforcement of a new requirement in the New York Lobbying Act requiring the disclosure of the source of funding used for lobbying activities by non-prof-it organizations 142* It appears that both SHARE and NY AREA may be in violation of that disclosure requirement. | |||
Both entities should be required to comply with the new provisions and disclose the source of their funding. | |||
Many of the recommendations that we made in our 2011, Lifting the Veil143, are applicable to Entergy's conduct. | |||
We believe that Entergy should be identified as the leading funder on all advertisements, | |||
: websites, and campaign materials for any grassroots lobbying campaign it pays for, directly or indirectly. | |||
The public is entitled to know who is speaking to it at the time it receives the communication. | |||
It is our continuing position that the identities of the top five contributors who provide $10,000 or more towards the cost of any grassroots lobbying campaign costing $100,000 or more should be disclosed on any material distributed directly to the public as part of the campaign. | |||
In this case, this regulation would likely result in all materials generat-ed by NY AREA and SHARE to be identified as Entergy-sponsored. | |||
The purpose of disclosure requirements is to allow the public to monitor their elected representatives' conduct and to hold them accountable for acting in the public interest. | |||
Industry and special interests are endlessly inven-tive. Our lawmakers must be equally creative in protecting the public interest and the public's right to know. United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | |||
"Indian Point-Unit 1 29,2012. | |||
http:llwww. | |||
nrc.gov/info-finder/decommissioninglpower-reactorlindian-point-unit-l.html 2 Howard J, Axelrod, Energy Strategies Inc. "An Assessment of Energy Needs in Westchester County." | |||
September 7, 2012. http://www westchesterny.org/downloads/Energy%20Needs%20Assessment%20 Fina}%20version pdf Randal C. Archibald. | |||
"Con Edison Sel1s Indian Point 2, Its Last Major Electricity Plant." The New York Times. September 7, 2001. | |||
point-2-its-last-major-eJectricit;y-plant.html. | |||
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | |||
"James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plane* November 16,2012. | |||
http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/fitz.htm1 5 Entergy Nuclear. | |||
"Nuclear hnp*//www.enterey-nuclear.com/plant information/default.aspx 6 AP. "Rudy Giuliani to do ads for nuclear power plant near NYC' October 5, 2011. The Huffington Post. http://www.huffinctonpost.com/201 1 /10106/rudy-g,iuliani-nuclear-plant-ads-nyc n 997889 htrnl 7 The Center for Media and Democracy. | |||
"Sourcewatch: | |||
New York Affordable Reliable Electrkity Alliance." | |||
September 2, 2010. "http://www.sourcewatch.org/index;.php?title New York Affordable liable Electricity Alliance 8 filings for Safe Healthy Affordable Energy in New York Inc. available via GuideStar at httv://www. | |||
cuidestar.or&forganizations/30-045372 1 /safe-healthy-affordable-energ:y-new-york.amx | |||
; IRS filings for New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance available via Guidestar at http://www.guidestar.org/ | |||
organizations/20-5860747/new-york-affordable-reliable-electricity-alliance aspx 9 Diane Farsetta. | |||
"Moore Spin: Or, How Reporters Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Nuclear Front Groups." | |||
PRWatch. | |||
March 14,2007. | |||
Brian Palmer. "The Nudear Industry's Astroturf Movement Communities of Color." Color Lines: News For Action. May 26, 2011._ ht!J?:IIcolorlines.com/archives/2011/05/the nuclear industrys fake equity concerns for people of color.html 10 Data at the federal level from the Center for Responsive Politics via Infiuence Explorer 11 Brian Tumulty. | |||
"NRC: An Indian Point reactor threat could bring SO-mile evacuation." | |||
The Journal News. March 17, 20!1. htm://www.lohud.com/article/201 J0317/NEWS051l03170406/NRC-An-lndian-Point-reactor-threat-could-bring-50-mile*evacuation 12 Burson Marsteller. | |||
"Industry Specialties: | |||
Energy;' | |||
2012. http:/lwww.burson*marstelJer.com/Practic* | |||
es And Soedalties!lndustry Specialties/Pages/Eoere:,v.aspx 13 Burson Marsteller. | |||
"PRWeek Names Burson-Marsteller Large Agency of the Year at 2003 PRWeek Awards Ceremony in NYC." 2003 http://www.burson.marsteller.com/newsroorn/listsfPressReleases/ | |||
DispForm.aspx?ID-406&nodename Press%20Re1eases%20Archive 14 Whols.Net Domain Name Search for www.safesecurevital.org. | |||
http:llwhois.net/whois/safesecurevitai. | |||
Q!i. 15 Entergy. | |||
"Entergy Seeks 20*year License Renewal for Indian Point Energy Center." | |||
November 22, 2006._ http://www.entergy.com/News Room/newsrelease.as.px?NR ID 910 16 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | |||
"Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3-License Renewal Application. | |||
March 4, 2013. http:/!www nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/ | |||
apolications/indian*point.html 17 Matthew L. Wald. "An Uncertain Phase for Nuclear Power Licenses." | |||
The New York Times. August 9, 2012. http://green blogs nytimes.com/2012/08/09/ap*uncertain*phase.for.nudear*power*licenses/ | |||
18 Randal C. Archibald. | |||
"Con Edison Sells Indian Point 2, Its Last Major Electricity Plant." The New York Times. September 7, 2001. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/07/nyregjon/con*edison*sel!s.indian* | |||
point-2.its.Jast*major-electridty-plant html 19 CNN Money. "Fortune 500-Annual Ranking of America's Largest Corporations." | |||
http://rnoney.cnn. | |||
com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2012/full list/201 300 html 20 Elsa Brenner. | |||
"Westchester Briefs;' | |||
The New York Times. July 13, 1997. http://www.nytimes. | |||
com/1997/07/13/nyregion/westchester-briefs.html 21 The Center for Media and Democracy. | |||
"Sourcewatch: | |||
New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance." | |||
September 2, 2010. http*//www.sourcewatch.org/index php?title=New York Affordable able Electricity Alliance 22 Diane Farsetta 2007, ibid. 23 Laura Miller ... Chernobyl-on-the-Hudson Hires Burson Marsteller." | |||
PRWatch. | |||
: April25, www.prwatch.org/nodell 155 24 Robert Sullivan. | |||
"A Slight Chance of Meltdown:* | |||
New York Magazine. | |||
November 6, 2011. http://nvmag. | |||
com/news/features/indian-point | |||
-2011-11/ | |||
25 WCBS 880. "Entergy Stunned as Governor Cuomo Continues Push to Close Indian Point." June 29, 2011. | |||
dose-indian-point/ | |||
26 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | |||
"Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident." | |||
February 11, 2013. http://www.nrc gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle.html 27 World Nuclear Association. | |||
"Chernobyl Accident 1986." December 2012. http://www.world-nuclearorg/ | |||
info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of-Plants/Chernobyl*Accident/#.UUDPtMUS vA 28 judy Pasternak. | |||
"Nuclear Energy Lobby Working Hard to Win Support." | |||
Investigative Reporting shop. January 24,2010. | |||
ine:.push/story/nuclear-energy-working-hard-win-support/* | |||
Eric Lichtblau. | |||
"Lobbyists Long Effort to Revive Nuclear Industry Faces New Test." The New York Times. March 24,2011. | |||
http://www.nytimes. | |||
com/20 !1103125/us/251obby.html? | |||
r-1 & 29 Jim Snyder. "Nuclear's revival." | |||
The Hill. March 3, 2010 ing/84595-nuclears-reyival 30 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | |||
"Backgrounder on Emergency Preparedness at Nuclear Power Plants." | |||
October 3, 2012. | |||
plan-prep-nuc-power-bc.html 31 Kenneth Chang. "Study Maps Faults for New York Quakes:* | |||
The New York Times. August 25, 2008._ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26quak.html?scp=4&sq-%22Indian%20point%22%20 | |||
%20fault&st-cse 32 Kenneth Schachter. | |||
"Indian Point evacuation plan inadequate, feds say:* Newsday. | |||
April!!, | |||
2013. h!!Jl.:LL 33 Jessica Glenza. "Some Indian Point Spent Fuel Moved Into Long Term Storage." | |||
Cortland Daily Voice.' September 18,2012. | |||
http://cortlandt.dailyyoice.com/news/some*indian-point-spent-fuel*moved-stor- | |||
* 34 Jessica Glenza. "Former Indian Point Security Guard Sues for $1.5 billion, Alleges Security Compro-mised." Cortland Daily Voice. September 13, 2012. http://cortlandt.dailyvoice.com/news/former-indi* | |||
an-point-security-guard-sues-lSb 35 David M. Halbfinger. | |||
"New York Denies Indian Point a Water Permit:' | |||
The New York Times. April 3, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/nvregion/04indian.html 36 Synapse Energy Economics Inc. '!Indian Point Replacement Analysis: | |||
A Clean Energy Roadmap:* | |||
October 11. 2012. htto*//www synapse-energy.com/Downloads/SynapseReport.20 12-1 an-Point-Replacement-Study.I2-047.pdf 37 Jonathan A. Lesser, Continental Economics Inc. "The Economic Impacts of Closing and Replacing the Indian Point Energy Center." | |||
Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. | |||
September, 2012. http://www. | |||
manhattan-institute.org!html!eper ll.htm 38 Howard J. Axelrod 2012, ibid. | |||
rnent%20Final%20version.pdf 39 Matthew L. Wald. "Life Without Indian Point, Redux.* The New York Times. September 7, | |||
green.bloss.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/life-without-indian-point*redux/ | |||
40 Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition. | |||
"What is IPSEC?" http://www.ipsecinfo.org/what is ipsec.htm 41 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc, and New York Power Authority. | |||
"Compliance filing with respect to development of Indian Point Contingency Plan." http:l/www.rupa.gov/LAWl-346789-vl-IP Continc-ency Plan Redacted.pdf 42 Brian Palmer 2011. ibid. 43 IRS filings for Safe Healthy Affordable Energy in New York Inc. available via GuideStar at http://www. | |||
guidestar.orc-torganizations/30*0453721/safe-healthy*affordable-energy-new-york.aspx | |||
*IRS filings for New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance available via Guidestar at httj?://www.guidestar.org/ | |||
organizations/20-5860747/new*york-affordable-reliable*electricity-alliance.aspx 44 Farsetta 2007, ibid; Brian Palmer 2011, ibid. 45 See as example, Entergy's | |||
$25,000 donation to 100 Black Men, an influential civil rights organization._ | |||
or the company's tions to local safety and non-profit organizations (http://www.safesecurevital.com/community ning/redpjents.htm!) | |||
46 Politico. | |||
Profile: | |||
Arthur "Jerry" Kremer." | |||
httJ?:I/www.politico.com/arena/bio/arthur jerry krerner.htrnl 47 Tom Robbins. | |||
"Influence Peddlers: | |||
Trade Secrets of the City's Lobbying Firm." The Village Voice. February 21,2006. | |||
http://www.villagevoice.com/2006-Q2.2llnewslinfluence-peddlers/. | |||
48 The Parkside Group. | |||
List of Clients. | |||
http://'WWW.theparksidegroup.com/winning.php 49 Tom Casey. "NYISO: Indian Point closure could stress out state's electrical Legislative Gazette. | |||
May 2, 2011. | |||
point-closure-could-stress-outstates-electrical-system.html 50 New York State Office of the Attorney GeneraL "Governor Spitzer and Attorney General Cuomo Announce Effort to Halt Indian Point Relicensing." | |||
December 3, 2007. http*//www ag ny lease/governor-spjtzer*and-attorne_y-ceneral-cuomo*announce-effort-halt-indian-point 51 Thomas Kaplan. "For Cuomo and Indian Point, New Round in a Long Fight" The New York Times. March 22,2011. | |||
http*//www.pytimes.com/20Il/03/23/nyregion/23indian.html 52 Assemblyman William A. Barclay. | |||
"Barclay: | |||
Closure of Indian Point Not Justified:' | |||
January 17, 2012. htt.p://assembly.state.ny.us/mern/William*A-Barclay/story/45973/ | |||
53 See for example, Perrino v Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 3 LLC. 48 A.D.3d 229 (2008) hcy*!!law.justia. | |||
com/cases/new.vork/appellate-djvision*first-department/2008/2008-01016.html 54 United States Nuclear Regu1atory Commission, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation. | |||
Letter. December 30,2004. | |||
hcy:l/pbadupws.nrc | |||
&ovldocs/Ml OSI6/ML05I680395 pdf 55 YNN Capital Tonight. | |||
"Rob Astorino on Indian Point." March 21, 2011. http:Ucamtaltonightnv.vnn. | |||
corn/2011/03/rob-astorino-on-indian-point/ | |||
56 Lisa W. Foderaro. | |||
"A Lawmaker is Criticized Over Email with Entergy." | |||
The New York Times. June 5, 2005. http:/ltrayel JWimes.coml2005/06105/nne¥lon/metrocarnpaie;ns/05entergy.htm} | |||
57 New York State Office of the Attorney General2007, ibid. 58 State Senator Darrel Aubertine. | |||
"Energy Chair Aubertine Calls New Reactor in Oswego a Priority." | |||
June 20, 2009. | |||
Qti!y_ 59 Katharine Jose:' "The Great Mumble: A New Generation Slouches Towards Nukes." The New York Observer. | |||
December 22,2008. | |||
slouches-toward-nukes/ | |||
60 State Senator Greg Ball. "Greg Ball debates Tax Hike Mike on Indian Point:' October 16,2010. | |||
h!!o.;LL www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q zu2vnplA | |||
; Examiner Media. "40th State Senate District: | |||
Greg Ball vs. Justin Wagner." | |||
The Examiner. | |||
November 2, 2012. | |||
district-greg*ball-vs-justin-wagner/ | |||
61 Safe Healthy Affordable Reliable Energy. "Staff." | |||
http*//shareny:org/about.php?Staff-2 62 Hugh Reynolds. | |||
"Cahill on point-Indian Point, that is." Hugh Reynolds. | |||
"Cahill on point-Indian Point, that is:* Kingston Times. August 2, 201!. | |||
indian-point-that-is/ | |||
63 Common Sense Now PAC. http://commonsensenowpac.net/ | |||
64 Phil Reisman. | |||
"Indian Point and Larry Gottleib's safety The Journal News. March 20,2011. | |||
hcy:/lwww.lohud.com/article/20! | |||
eb*s-safety-principle 65 Lisa W. Foderaro 2005, ibid. 66 New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics. "Source of Funding:* | |||
2012. htt;p://www.jcope.ny.gov/ | |||
source fundinc/ | |||
67 Independent Power Producers of NY Inc. "Testimony ofiPPNY Before the NRC Regarding the Envi* ronmental Scoping Process for the Indian Point Nuclear Reactor Generating Units Nos. 2 and 3, License Renewal Application:* | |||
September 19,2007. | |||
hcy:llpbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0728/ML072820247.pdf; Matthew L. Wald 2012, ibid. 68 http://area-alliance.org/index.php/media-center/video/ | |||
69 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | |||
"The Commission:' | |||
December 13,2012. | |||
htto:llwww.nrc. | |||
gov/about-nrc/organization/commfuncdesc.html 70 Snake River Alliance. | |||
"White Paper -Nuclear Loan Guarantees: | |||
Good Energy Policy?" | |||
September 5, 2012. http://snakeriveralliance.org/white-paper-nuclear-loan-guarantees-good-energy-policy/ | |||
71 Data at the federal level comes from the Center for Responsive Politics via Influence Explorer | |||
!h!miL influenceexplorer.com/) | |||
72 U.S. Chamber of Commerce. | |||
"Board of Directors:* | |||
http:llwww.uschamber.com/about/board 73 U.S. Chamber of Commerce. | |||
"Chamber Calls for Renewal of License for NY Energy Facility." | |||
hll2ili www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2007/december/chamber-calls-renewal-license-ny-energy-facility 74 Josh Stilts. "U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Others Join Entergy in Lawsuit Against Vermont." boro Reformer. | |||
September 10,2012. | |||
http://www.reformercom/ci ber-commerce-and-others?source=most viewed 75 Energy. "Leadership: | |||
Board of Directors: | |||
Blanche Lambert Lincoln." | |||
htt;p://www.entergy.com/about tergy!leadership/Lincoln.aspx 76 Alex Wayne and Drew Armstrong. | |||
"Tauzin's | |||
$11.6 Million Made Him Highest-Paide Health-Law Lobbyise* | |||
Bloomberg News. November 29,2011. | |||
s-ll-6-million-made-him*highest-paid-health-law-lobbyist.html 77 judy Pasternak 2010, ibid. 78 Dianne Farsetta 2007. ibid; The Center for Media and Democracy's Source Watch. "Clean and Safe Energy Coalition." | |||
July 29,2009. | |||
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title-Clean and Safe gy Coalition 79 Brian Tumulty 2011, ibid. 80 Nuclear Energy Institute. | |||
"Nuclear Energy Industry Welcomes Legislation to Continue Momentum. | |||
Towards New Plant Construction." | |||
August 7, 2007. http:/lwww.nei.org/newsandevents/News-Releases/ | |||
nuclearenergyindustrywelcomes 81 Bob Hennelly. | |||
"Bloomberg Backs Indian Point Nuclear Plant." WNYC. March !8, 2011. ht!p://www. | |||
wnyc.org/articles/its-free-country/2011/mar/18/bloomberg-backs-indian*point-nuclear-plant/; | |||
The Journal News Editorial Board. "Bigger fish to fry regarding Indian Point." The Journal News. March 20, 20 II. http:l/www.lohud.com/article/20!! | |||
0320/0PINION/1 an-Point 82 Congressman Peter King. "Energy." | |||
http://peteking.house.gov/energy.shtml 83 http*//artide!: | |||
economictime!:.indiatirnes.com/2011-12-06/news/30481633 1 | |||
mentary-compensation*india-s-nuclear-liability-law-csc 84 Congressman John McHugh. "McHugh Applauds Relicensing of FitzPatrick Nuclear Energy Plan." September 9, 2008. | |||
patrick*nuclear-energy-plant-nudear-power-provides-significant*benefits-to-region-country#. | |||
USZip8US vA . 85 Nuclear Energy Institute. | |||
"Bipartisan Agreement on Reactor Safety." | |||
November 2010. http://www.nei. | |||
org/filefolder/insight Nov 2010.pdf | |||
; Maury Thompson. | |||
"Owens and Gibson to Collaborate on clear Discussion:' | |||
The Post Star. February 07,2011. | |||
http://f.!OStstar.com/blogs/all oolitics is ens-and-gibson-to-collaborate-on*nudear-discussion/article 402904e4-e033-5d7e-afl7-felbf8740fbd. | |||
html 86 Project VoteSmart. | |||
"Michael McMahon's Issue Positions: | |||
Political Courage Test., 2010. http://votesmart. | |||
UT)JcSVzM 19 87 Congress.gov. | |||
"Legislation Sponsored or Co-Sponsored by Michael E. McMahon." | |||
http://beta.congress gov/member/michael-mcmahon/1941 | |||
?pageSize=25&Subject of Legislation=Energy 88 Congressman Scott Murphy. "Congressman Murphy Helps Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Nuclear Power." April28, 2010. | |||
phy-helps-introduce-bipartisan-lecislation-to-prornote-nuclear-powertt USa03cUS vA 89 Elise Foley. "Obama Administration, Senators Stand Behind Nuclear Power Amid Japan Meltdown Scare." The Huffington Post. March 13,2011. | |||
htt.p://www.huffingtonpost.com/201 ar-reactor n 835057.html 90 Jeffrey Kluger. "The Eco Vote: A field guide to would-be presidents." | |||
Time Magazine. | |||
November 2, 2007. htll':llwww.time.com/time/2007/indudes(eco vote.pdf; Phil Campbell. | |||
"A Clinton-Giuliani Nuclear Showdown?" | |||
Time Magazine. | |||
March 27,2007. | |||
http://www.time c!e/0 8599 !6Q363S.OO.htm! | |||
91 Tory Newmyer. | |||
"Inside the Mind of a Nuclear Flip-Flapper." | |||
CNN Money. March 22,201!. | |||
htll':llmoney. | |||
cnn.com/2011/03/21/news/companiesfnudear lobby.fortune/index htm 92 MidHudsonRadio "Hayworth. | |||
Maloney spar over environmental issues at public forum." October 10, 2012. http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2012/0ctober/10/Hayworth Maloney-I00ctl2.html 93 Richard L. Hall and Alan V. Deardotf | |||
... Lobbying as a Legislative American Political Science Review. 100.1:69-84. | |||
February 2006. http:/lwww.policy:hu/muntean/SG SS 2.pdf 94 Center for Responsive Politics. | |||
"McCannell | |||
, Chris: Revolving Door Profile." | |||
http://www.opensecrets.or&l revo!Vinc/rey summarv-php?id-70185 95 Quinn Gillespie | |||
& Associates. | |||
"QGA Team." 2009. http://www.zoominfo com/CachedPa,e/?ar-chive id-O&page id=-1425755456&paze uri llwww.guinngillesoie.comlnewslgga sif:hts/2008/2008 | |||
!0 30 php&paee last e=McCannell 96 Center for Responsive Politics. | |||
"Lobbying: | |||
Quinn, Gillespie | |||
& Associates." | |||
htt;p://www.opensecrets org/ loblzy/firmsum.php?id-D000023257&vear=2007 97 Burson Marsteller. | |||
"Industry Specialties: | |||
Energy:* | |||
2012. http://www.burson-marsteller.com/Practic-es And Specialties/Industry Specialties/Pages/Energy.aspx | |||
* 98 The Center for Media and Democracy's Source Watch. | |||
http:llwww.sourcewatch.org/ | |||
index.php/Burson-Marsteller 99 Laura Miller 2002, ibid. 100 Burson Marsteller. | |||
"PRWeek Names Burson-Marsteller Large Agency of the Year at 2003 PRWeek Awards Ceremony in NYC." 2003 http://www.burson-rnarsteller.com/newsroomllists/PressReleases/DispForm. | |||
as.px?ID 406&nodename-Press%20Releases%20Archive 101 Whois.Net Domain Name Search for www.safesecurevital.org. | |||
http://whois.net/whois/safesecurevital.org 102 Capalino+Company Government | |||
& Community Relations Strategists. | |||
"Success Stories: son-Marsteller." | |||
http://www.capalino.com/success-stories/burson-marsteller; Entergy. | |||
"Entergy Provides Free Radio Airtime to Nonprofits." | |||
time-to-nonprofits/; | |||
103 Giuliani Partners. | |||
"Giuliani Partners Retained by Entergy Nuclear Northeast:' | |||
: April30, 2003. http://www. | |||
giulianioartners.com/press entem 043003.aSj>x 104 Susan Smallheer. | |||
"Giuliani: | |||
Praise, warning for responders." | |||
Rutland Herald. August 20, 2004. h.m;al www.rutlandherald.comlal'pslpbcs.dll/artide?AID-/20040820/NEWS/40820036511003; Clarion Ledger. "Rudy Giuliani Speaks at Governor's Energy Summit." | |||
October 4, 2012. htm://www.clarionledger.com/ | |||
videonetwork/1878737959001/Rudy-Giuliani-speak.s-at-Governor-s-Energy-Summit 105 Thomas Kaplan. "Giuliani Ads to Promote Safety of Indian Point:' The New York Times. October 5, 2011. bttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/ruuliani-to-promote-indian-points-safety!; | |||
Entergy. | |||
"Public Outreach: | |||
See the Campaign." | |||
case.html 106 Entergy. | |||
"Let's Stay Positive With Positive Energy." | |||
httj?://www.safesecurevital.com/community ning/your-positive-energy.html 107 Entergy. | |||
"Hear Our Positive Energy." | |||
http://www.safesecurevital.com/uploads/IndianPointPositiveEner-108 Entergy. | |||
"Let's Stay Positive With Positive Energy." | |||
http:/lwww.safesecurevital.com/community ning/your-positive-energy.html 109 For example, the American Beverage Association spent $11.8 million in just the first half of20IO on an advertising campaign against Governor Paterson's proposed soda tax. II 0 Entergy. | |||
"Entergy Awards $250,000 in Funder to Local Responders: | |||
Company has Awarded $I.25 Million Since Program's Inception." | |||
http://www.safesecurevital.com/newsroom/press-releases/entergy-awards-250-000-in-funds-to-local-responders.html. | |||
Ill Entergy. | |||
"Community Grant Recipients." | |||
http://www.safesecurevital.com/community ents.html 112 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | |||
"Transcript of Public Meeting to Discuss Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed License Renewal of Indian Point Nuclear Generating Untt Numbers2 and 3:' htll':ll!'badu!'ws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0914/ML091410354.pdf 113 Robert D. Bullard. | |||
"Environmental Justice in the 21st Century." | |||
ry;htm 114 The Network Journal. | |||
"Entergy gives grant to 100 Black Men of New York Chapter." | |||
httj?://www.tnj.com/ | |||
115 African-American Observer. | |||
"African Day parade, festival planned." | |||
September 1I, 2012. http://www. | |||
safesecurevital.com/up1oads/Entergy Supports Sixth Annual African Day Parade icanObserver.pdf; NAACP New York State Conference. | |||
"The 75th Anniversary | |||
& Diamond Jubilee Celebration." | |||
20 ll btm://www.nysnaacp.orgOubilee.html 116 Brian Palmer 2011, ibid. 117 SHARE. "Members of the Brooklyn Clergy Tour the Indian Point Energy Center." | |||
July 2012. hnp;LL shareny.org/new/cms/uploads/July-31-20 12-Brook1vn-Clergy-Tours-IPEC-FINAL. pdf. 118 Safe Healthy Affordable Reliable Energy. "Mission." | |||
http://shareny.org/about.php?Mission-3 119 Craig Wilson. "Pursue all forms of clean energy:' | |||
Albany Times-Union. | |||
June 30, 2011. htto://www. | |||
timesunion.com/opinion/article/Pursue-all-forms-of-clean-energy-1446707.php 120 IRS filings for Safe Healthy Affordable Energy in New York inc. available via GuideStar at http://www. | |||
guidestar.orglorganizations/30-0453721/safe-healthy-affordabJe-energy-new-york.aspx 121 SHARE. "SHARE Participates During Black, Puerto-Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus." | |||
February 2013. bttp://sbareny.org/new/cms/uploads/February 2013-SHARE-Hispanic-&-Asian-Legislative-Caucus pdf 122 h!:!l'-/lsharenrm:glnewlcms/uploads!!uly-3 I* 20 I Tours-IPEC-FINAL. pdf* http'// shareny org/new/cms/uploads/IPEC-Tour-Earth-Day-Press-Release-2012-FINAL. pdf 123 Brian Palmer 2011, ibid. 124 http*/lwwwprwatch orctprwissues/200501/nukel htm\ 125 County Executive Andy Spano. "Spano Responds to Entergy Campaign to Scare Minority Communities." | |||
October 24, 2003; Roger Witherspoon and Keith Eddings. | |||
"Entergy Issues Warning to Minority munities." | |||
The Journal News. October 24, 2003. -Both the Spano press release and Journal News article are reproduced at: http:l/tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Know Nukes/messai'e/3385-- | |||
the originals are no longer available online. 126 Jerry Kremer. ''A Costly War on Indian Point." Albany Times-Union. | |||
February 27,2013. | |||
htll'*llwww. | |||
timesunion.com/opinion/artide/A-costly-war-on-Indian-Point -4314617 | |||
.php. 127 Diane Farsetta 2007, ibid 128 IRS filings for New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance available via Guidestar at htll':llwww. | |||
129 John J, Basile. "Indian Point a Safe Operation." | |||
Albany Times-Union. | |||
May 6, 2011. | |||
sunion.com/opjnion/articlellndian-Point-plant-a-safe-operation-136830 l.php 130 Diane Farsetta 2007, ibid; *Patrick Moore. "41 Years of Earth Day." NY AREA Print Advertisement. | |||
hnn1£ www.area-alliance.org/documentsl4.26.ll.CapitolMoore.pdf 131 NY AREA. "Press Releases." | |||
http://area-alliance.o$'index.php/media-center/press-releases/; | |||
132 Internal Revenue Service. | |||
"Other Section 501 (c) Organizations. | |||
htt;p:llwwwirs govlpublications/p557/ | |||
ch04.html#en US 201 I publinki0002003Q9 133 Images from NY AREA. Mass AREA, and Vermont Energy Partnership Winter 2009 Newsletters, avail* able on each group's website. | |||
134 Common Cause/NY 2011, ibid ; Sharon Beder. "Public Relations' Role in Manufacturing Artificial Grassroots Coalitions." | |||
Public Relations Quarterly 43.2 Summer 1998: 21-23. http:/lwww.uow.edu. | |||
au/-sharonb/PR html; Sasha Chavkin. | |||
"astroturf": | |||
Five lobby groups whose names don't tell the whole story." The New York Wor1d. June 20, 2012. | |||
by-groups-names-stor:y!* | |||
135 Thomas P. Lyon, and John W. Maxwell. | |||
July 2002. | |||
shoplpaperslmaxwell 042 103.pdf 136 TW. Farnam. "Lobbying Down but Advocacy Up:* The Washington Post. February | |||
: 6. 2013. htUrl/www. | |||
washingtogpost.comlpolitics/lobbying-down-but-advocacy-up/20 I 3/02/06/b7d97984-7094-1 1 e2-8b8d. | |||
e0b59a1b8e2a story.html?wprss-rss politics I 37 Paul Blumenthal. | |||
"Dark Money" In 2012 Election Tops $400 million, I 0 candidates outspent by groups with undisclosed donors:' | |||
The Huffi.ngton Post. November 2, 2012. http:llwww:huffingtonpost. | |||
com/20121!1102/dark-money-2012-election-400-million n 2065689.htm! | |||
138 Nicholas Confessore. | |||
"S.E.C. is Asked to Require Disclosure of donations;* | |||
The New York Times April23. | |||
2013. | |||
tions.html?pagewanted-a11& | |||
r=O 139 G. Jeffrey MacDonald. | |||
"Shareholders as firms: What are your politics?"The Christian Science Monitor. | |||
April 8. 2013. http:l/www.csmonitor.com/Business/new-economy/20 What-are-vour-politics 140 Entergy Corporation. | |||
"Corporate Governance." | |||
http:l/www.enterncom/investor rate governance.aspx 141 Glenn Bain. "State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli forces computer chip maker Qualcomm to reveal $3 million in previously hidden political contributions and other donations." | |||
The New York Daily News. February 23,2013. | |||
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/qualcomm-forced-reveal-3-million-hid* | |||
den-donations-article-1.127I468 142 New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics. "Source of Funding:* | |||
2012. http:J/www.jcooe.ny.gov/ | |||
source funding/ | |||
143 Common Cause/NY. | |||
"Lifting the Veil: A Report Analyzing Grassroots Lobbying in New York State;* June 2011. http://www.commoncause.org/ny/liftingtheveil fJ FSC _,.,.., MIX *Paper from r*aponalble aourc.a FSC" C1 02680 e PRINTED WITH TM NewYork CAusE 74 Trinity Place, Suite 901 | |||
* New York, NY 10006 | |||
* www.commoncause.org/ny}} |
Revision as of 15:06, 4 July 2018
ML13221A417 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | Indian Point ![]() |
Issue date: | 07/26/2013 |
From: | Lerner S Common Cause New York |
To: | Macfarlane A M NRC/Chairman |
Picket, Doug, NRR/DORL | |
Shared Package | |
ML13221A419 | List: |
References | |
LTR-13-0662 | |
Download: ML13221A417 (46) | |
Text
By US Mail Commissioner Allison M. Macfarlane U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Mail Stop 0-16G4 Washington, DC 20555
Dear Allison M. Macfarlane,
July 26, 2013 Enclosed is a copy of "Generating Influence,"
Common Cause/New York's comprehensive study of Entergy Corporation's political spending and public relations campaign to secure new operating licenses for the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchanan, New York. As you are well aware, Entergy is currently in the late stages of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission license renewal process that began in 2007. While Common Cause takes no position on the relicensing of Indian Point, we strongly believe that the final decision should be based on objective analysis of the costs and benefits and not unduly shaped by the well-funded
- lobbying, campaign contributions, and publicity campaigns of Entergy Corporation.
As such, it is crucial that NRC officials are fully aware of the extraordinary extent to which the appearance of "public support" for the Indian Point nuclear power plant appears to have been generated by the deceptive strategies of Entergy Corporation.
In addition to the "inside game" of lobbying and campaign contributions, Entergy has engaged in an extensive "outside game" of public relations and grassroots "astroturfing" strategies.
From making targeted campaign contributions and hiring former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to appear in an advertising
- campaign, to cultivating influential"front group" coalitions of business interests, unions, local political
- leaders, and non-profits (NY AREA and SHARE), Entergy is working the full spectrum of lobbying and publicity strategies in an all-out effort to keep Indian Point open. Interests like Entergy have every right to communicate their views to policymakers, regulators, and the public. In fact, hearing from industry is essential to guarantee a fair regulatory process.
But without full transparency, disclosure, and reasonable limits and safeguards, they can too easily achieve undue influence and subvert our democratic processes and principles.
In the case of Indian Point's license renewal, Entergy's use of front groups is particularly concerning.
Front groups are effective because they conceal the sponsor's self-interest, giving legitimacy to arguments and tactics that would not be as effective if made by the sponsor directly.
As the NRC considers its final recommendations for Indian Point, we hope the information regarding Entergy's political activities provided by the enclosed report will help inform the Commission's efforts at maintaining objectivity in all related policymaking.
Sincerely, Susan Lerner Executive
- Director, Common Cause New York
Methodology
.................................
3 Key Findings:
New York State Level ................
4 Key Findings:
Federal Level ...*..................
5 Key Findings:
PR and Astroturfing
.................
6 The Indian Point Debate .......*................
7 Generating Influence
.............*......*..*..
12 Spreading Nuclear Money Around *......*...*..*..
15 Top New York State-Level Candidate Recipients of Entergy Contributions
...*.**........
17 Top New York State-Level Committee/PAC Recipients of Entergy Contributions
...............
20 Entergy's Powerful Allies in New York State .......*.
23 Nationwide Influence
..........................
25 Campaign Contributions to New York Congressional Candidates
.......................
28 Top New York Congressional Candidate Recipients of Entergy Donations
..................
29 Generating Influence:
Entergy's Public Relations
. Campaign and "Astroturf' Front Groups .....*.....
31 Conclusion
.........................*........
38 Endnotes
- ..*...................*...........
39 ,!,. NewYork CAUSE Power Accountable plant located in the Village of Buchanan, just outside of the City of Peekskill in northern Westchester County, New York. Since the first reactor opened in 1962, Indian Point has served as a major source of energy generation to the New York City region. The plant consists of three reactors, of which Reactor 1 was shut down in 1974 for failing to meet regulatory require-ments.t Reactors 2 and 3, built in 1974 and 1976, currently generate 2,000 megawatts of energy, or roughly 20 to 25 percent of the electricity used by New York City and Westchester County.2 Located only 25 miles north of New York City, Indian Point has long been the subject of criticism over the potential danger of a nuclear accident.
Since 2000 the plant has been owned by Entergi, a publically traded corporation based in Common Causr* \:Cw York ! p<lgt' i Louisiana that operates coal, gas, hydro, and nuclear power plants throughout the United States. In addition to Indian Point, Entergy owns an additional nine d I' * '!" ,-* n r
- t -* In a ott! on tot 7e *inSide aatne or tootJVfnO onei co :n -1' * -** contributions, Entergv has engaged in an extensive
{!outside go e of public relations and grassroots "astra turfing" stroregies to create the appearance of public suppo ( _ ---------------
nuclear plants including the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant in upstate Oswego County, New York\ the Vermont Yankee Plant, and the Massachusetts Pilgrim Plant. 5 In 2013 and 2015, Entergy's licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to operate Indian Point's two remaining reactors will expire. In order to keep the plant open, the company must win 20 year license renewals from the NRC. This report examines Entergy's political spending and public relations campaign to secure Indian Point's relicensing, an ideal case study for examining contempo-rary corporate attempts to influence policy. In addition to the "inside game" of lobbying and campaign contributions, Entergy has engaged in an extensive side game" of public relations and grassroots "astroturfing" strategies to create the appearance of public support.
From making targeted campaign contributions and hiring former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani to appear in an advertising
- campaign, 6 to cultivating 2 j Clenerating ln11uencc; Fntergy's Political Spending and the Battle the Point >-.:*.:ck:a:*
PL11';
influential "front group" coalitions of business interests, unions, local political
- leaders, and non-profits (NY AREA and SHARE)?,
Entergy is working the full spectrum oflobbying and publicity strategies in an all-out effort to keep Indian Point open. While Common Cause/ NY takes no position on the relicensing of Indian Point, we strongly believe that the final decision should be based in objective analysis of the costs and benefits and not unduly shaped by the well-funded
- lobbying, campaign contributions, and publicity campaigns of Entergy Corporation.
METBO[JOLOCY This report includes New York state and local level campaign finance data from the New York State Board of Elections, lobbying data from the New York Joint Com-mission on Public Ethics (JCOPE),
and federal campaign finance and lobbying data from the FEC via the Center for Responsive Politics and InfluenceExplorer.com.
At the New York State level, our analysis aggregates campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures from the NY AREA and SHARE coalitions alongside Entergy's direct spending.
While these two coalitions maintain appearances of independence, the groups' IRS filings8 g and independent investigations 9 reveal that Entergy is the power behind the ;) groups' foundation and continuing operation.
=\ For a full spreadsheet of the lobbying data and campaign contributions identified
- > in this report, please contact Brian Paul at bpaul@commoncause.org.
Common Cause New York I 3
In the eight year period from 2005 to 2012, Entergy and its associated coalitions (SHARE and NY AREA), spent just over $4 million on lobbying at the New York state level* and made $573,225 in state and local campaign contributionsb.
Entergy has been successful in winning powerful allies through coalition building.
- Overall, the business organizations and labor unions supporting Entergy's position on Indian Point have spent nearly three times as much in total lobbying
($II.2 M) and campaign contributions
($6.05M) than the environmental and civic organizations that have advocated for the plant's closure ($4.4 M on lobbying;$1.49 Min campaign contributions from affiliated individuals).
a Lobbying totals includes
$2.99 million from Entergy,
$777,000 from the SHARE Coalition, and $534,000 from NY AREA b $573,225 total campaign contributions from 2005 through 2012, includes
$523,254 from Entergy's PAC, $6,505 from Entergy executives,
$28,936 from Arthur Kremer (President of NY AREA), and $14,530 from Frank Fraley (President of SHARE Coalition) and other SHARE board members.
Federal Level Entergy spent a total of $31.4 million lobbying the federal government from 2005 through 2012, retaining a total of eighteen lobbying firms and donating roughly $4.17 million10 to candidates, PACS, and committees.
Entergy's combined lobbying and campaign contributions increased by 57% for the 2008 cycle compared to the 2006 cycle. Spending continued to increase another 17% for the 2010 cycle before decreasing by 10% in the 2012 cycle. Since 2005, Entergy and its executives have contributed a total of $158,170 to New York Senators and Congress members.
" :1* C0mnwn Cause \:ew York ! page 5 In addition to the "inside game" oflobbying and campaign contributions, Entergy has also undertaken a comprehen-sive "outside game" of grassroots strategies and advertising to build public support for Indian Point. Entergy has formed two "front groups" -SHARE (Safe Healthy Affordable Reliable Energy) and NY AREA (Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance)
-to engage in "astroturf' grassroots lobbying and coalition building.
c For example, the American Beverage Association spent $11.8 million in just the first half of 2010 on an advertising campaign against Governor Paterson's proposed soda tax.
In 2013 and 2015, Entergy's licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to operate Indian Point's two remaining reactors will expire. In order to keep the plant open, the company must win 20 year license renewals from the NRC. Entergy launched its campaign to renew the licenses in November 200615 and the NRC process official-ly began in 200716* Although a recent federal court ruling placed a freeze on all NRC licensing activ-ity due to ongoing problems with nuclear waste storage policy!7, Indian Point can continue to operate beyond the official license deadline until the NRC reaches a final ruling. Entergy purchased Indian Point Reactor 2 in 2000 from the New York Power Authority and Indian Point Reac-tor 3 in 2001 from Consolidated Edison.18 Z Entergy is a publically traded corporation b based in Louisiana that operates coal, gas, ::I 0 u ;:-hydro, and nuclear power plants through-o 0 N Entergy contends that Indian Point is one of the safest nuclear plants in the world and argues that its closure would lead to a loss of jobs, an increase in electricity costs and blackouts, and an increase in air pollution as fossil fuel plants replace emissions-free nuclear power. As the New York Times reports, Indian Point has a long history of accidents and mishaps since the 1970s, ranging out the United States. With annual e g enues of over $11 billion, it is ranked the c. Spent fuel pool (Nov. 2007): Highly radioactive spent fuel rods are cooled under 40 feet of water. The spent fuel is then transferred to a cask storage system outdoors.
Qj <2 239th largest corporation in the United States by Forbes.19 E ... c; Generating over 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power from ;a t) its nine plants annually, Entergy has much to lose if its ...<::: 0.. licenses were not renewed by the NRC. from steel liners buckling to radioactive water leaking.
For a period of four years during the 1990's, repeated safety issues at Indian Point caused the plant to be placed on the NRC's watch list of plants requiring "special oversight."
20 Indian Point in context:
New York City and a huge portion of the metropolitan region are within 50 miles of the plant's location.
Such incidents, coupled with the plant's close proximity to New York City, have made Indian Point a major safety concern for many decades.
Political support for closing Indian Point gained traction after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 raised fears that the plant could be the next target. Environmentalists and some civic groups and concerned citizens argue that the risk of a nuclear accident or terrorist attack at Indian Point is not worth the benefit of the plant's jobs and power generation.
Groups opposed to Indian Point also question the feasibility of safe disposal of nu-clear waste and the damage to the Hudson River's ecology that is caused by the plant's cooling system. To combat these concerns, Entergy has engaged in vigorous public relations and lobbying efforts to win governmental support and public opinion.
From making targeted campaign contributions, to hiring former New York Governor Rudy Giuliani to appear in an advertis-ing campaign, to using "front groups" to form coalitions of business interests, unions, local political leaders and non-profits (the NY AREA and SHARE coalitions)2 1, En-tergy is working the full spectrum oflobbying and publici-ty strategies in an all-out effort to keep the plant open. The company has also retained public relations giant Bur-son-Marsteller 22 for over a decade, ever since Indian Point began to come under increased scrutiny as a potential terrorist target in the wake of the September 11th attacks23* Entergy's attempts to relicense Indian Point are also threatened by the political opposition of the popular and powerful Governor Andrew Cuomo, a longtime adversary of the plant. 24 From the beginning of his term as Governor, Cuomo has made shutting down Indian Point a priority2 5 and has sought to develop alternative sources of power such as an "energy highway" of additional transmission from upstate Nkw York and Canada. While Governor Cuomo firmly supports the shutdown of Indian Point, the decision to renew the plant's license ultimately rests at the federal level with the NRC, and is subject to influence by political leaders representing the region in Congress, the State Legislature, and local juris-dictions.
Public opinion, in its power to sway the actions of politicians and even appointed commissions like the NRC, plays an equally critical role in influencing the future of Indian Point. In examining the debate over Indian Point, it is ant to keep in mind the national policy context of nuclear energy in the United States. The nuclear power industry suffered grave damage from the 1979 partial meltdown at Three Mile Island26 and the 1986 disaster at ChernobyF 7* No new nuclear plant has been built in the US since 1977. But for the past decade, the nuclear industry has attempted to revive its image through a comprehensive lobbying and public relations campaign coordinated through the Nude-ar Energy Institute.
28 In addition to reassuring the public on the issue of safety, much of this campaign is directed at rebranding nuclear as a "green" energy alternative to fossil fuels. The industry has also built relationships with labor unions attracted by the prospect of construction jobs and the fact that nuclear plants require a larger workforce than comparable fossil fuel or renewables plants.29 These efforts have been successful in reviving consideration of nuclear power as part of the United States' energy future and win-ning favorable policies and subsidies from both Democrats and Republicans.
N W.E . s . NEW JERSEY More than 250,000 New Yorkers live within the l() mile evacuation zone around Indian Point. But nuclear energy remains highly controversial and the 2011 disaster at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant (where damage from a tsunami led to meltdowns and the spread of dangerous levels of radiation for over 20 miles) has renewed fears of nuclear accidents and their potentially catastrophic consequences.
. One of the arguments that critics of Indian Point raise is the alleged lack of a feasible evacuation plan in the case of a nuclear meltdown.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) mandates only a ten-mile evacuation area for Indian Point, reflecting its belief that New York City would not face any signification risk from radiation plumes30* The threat of the Fukushima disaster and the discovery of a possible earthquake fault line near Indian Point, however, have led to questions over whether such an evacuation plan is adequate.
31 A recent study by the Government Accountability Office calls into question whether the 250,000 residents living within a ten-mile radius of Indian Point could successfully evacuate without escape routes grinding to a congested halt. 32 Another concern is Indian Point's spent-fuel assemblies, which the plant uses to store its used uranium.
Such assemblies could be particularly vulnerable to a natural disaster and an open target for terrorist attacks.
Starting in 2007, Entergy began to move portions of its waste fuel to dry cask storage to allow for upcoming re-fueling of the spent-fuel assemblies.
33 Such movement, nevertheless, has ' ! --Image of dry spent fuel casks on concrete pad at a nuclear power plant site. (Nov. 2007) also attracted criticism, as in 2012, a former security guard filed a lawsuit claiming that the security at Indian Point, including the proper training for employees and condi-tions of dry cask storage, was "totally compromised."
34 In 2010, New York State, citing the impacts of outdated cooling technology at Indian Point on the Hudson Riv-er's wildlife, denied Entergy's request for a water permit. According to the New York Department ofEnvironmen-tal Conservation, the "once-through" cooling system at Indian Point, which became obsolete in the 1970s, kills nearly a bUlion organisms per year as it draws 2.5 billion gallons of water a day. Furthermore, New York State also charged that Indian Point has polluted the Hudson River by leaking radioactive materials.
35 Because a water quality certificate is a prerequisite for the 20-year renewal for Indi-an Point suggested by NRC, Entergy continues to appeal New York State's decision.
Iflndian Point is shut down, New York City must acquire additional power generation and/or transmission.
Several projects to build new cables to transfer energy from New Jersey to New York began in 2011, with a 660-megawatt cable from Ridgefield, N.J. to Manhattan and a 6.75 mile cable from Bayonne, N.J. to Con Edison's Gowanus sub-station.
Governor Cuomo has also expressed support for a transmission line between Hydro Quebec, Canada and New York City.
In 2011, NRDC and Riverkeeper commissioned consulting firm Synapse Energy Economics to assess the feasibility of replacing Indian' Point's power. The report found that Indian Point could be successfully replaced by the year 2022 with a combination of increased energy efficiency and new solar and wind development, repowering ex-isting older natural gas plants with new combined cycle plants, and new transmission lines36* Entergy and other proponents of relicensing Indian Protesters gather in Union Square in 2011 calling for Indian Point to be shut down. Point counter with a study by the Manhattan Institute Campaign for the Environment, Riverkeeper, which estimates that closing Indian Point could potentially Environmental Advocates of New York, and Scenic result in a $1.5 billion to $2.2 billion increase in energy Hudson, support Governor Cuomo's position and have costs and the loss of 26,000 to 40,000 jobs. 37 Currently, made the shutdown of Indian Point a priority.
The Indian Indian Point has 1,200 employees and 200 contractors.
The Point Safe Energy Coalition 40 includes dozens of smaller employee payroll is $130 million, and the plant contributes local environmental and civic groups opposed to Indian $363 million to local purchases.
Another study by Ener-Point, focusing on grassroots organizing to pressure gy Strategies Inc. for the Westchester Business Alliance38 political officials to support the plant's shutdown.
estimates that a high-efficiency natural gas plant would While the NRC's final decision on Indian Point's relicens-employ only twenty workers, and that even the best alter-ing remains unresolved, Governor Cuomo has actively native would raise the cost of electricity.
39 Furthermore, pushed the New York Power Authority and Con Edison to Entergy has argued that replacing Indian Point with fossil prepare a contingency plan for the potential closure of the fuel power would lead to more air pollution, thereby exac-plant in 2015.41 erbating public health issues like asthma. g. [/) b Many of New York's largest environmental organizations,
.8 0 5:; including the NRDC, Sierra Club, NYPIRG, Citizens Common Cause :\ew
! page I l GENERATiNG lNflUENtE unduly shaped by the lobbying, campaign contributions, and publicity campaigns of Entergy Corporation.
In addition to direct lobbying and campaign contribu-The decision to relicense or close Indian Point has major tions, Entergy has been actively organizing support among implications for energy, environmental, and public health New York City business organizations, labor unions, and policy in New York. It also has major implications for local communities in Westchester and the New York City Entergy Corporation
-Indian Point is the single most through two coalitions-the New York Affordable Reliable important nuclear plant in their portfolio, representing Electricity Alliance (NY AREA) and Safe Healthy 20% of their nationwide nuclear generating capacity and Affordable Reliable Energy (SHARE).
hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue.
NY AREA, chaired by former NYS Assemblyman Arthur Because Entergy's interest to keep the plant open is not necessarily the same as the public's
- interest, it's important "Jerry" Kremer, has been successful in organizing power-ful business interests and labor unions like the Business to examine the role of lobbying, campaign contributions, Council for New York State, the New York State AFL-CIO, and other political influence activities in shaping the and the New York Building Congress in a united lobbying effort to keep Indian Point open. The SHARE Coalition led by Frank Fraley, an influential African-American political leader in Mount Vernon, has helped build sup-port for Indian Point among minority organizations and political leadership.
The SHARE Coalition has also helped Entergy develop a relationship with the NAACP and other organizations in,, minority communities through funding and grassroots events. 42 debate over Indian Point. The final decision on Indian While these two coalitions maintain appearances of Point should be based on objective analysis of the costs independence, the groups' IRS filings43 and independent and benefits of the plant's continued operation, and not investigations 44 reveal that Entergy is the power behind the Figure 1 Entergy and Associated Coalitions:
NYS Lobbying and Campaign Contributions by Election Cycle groups' foundation and continuing operation.
As a result, our figures for Entergy's lobbying and campaign contribu-tions in New York State aggregate Entergy's direct activi-ties with those from NY AREA and Sfi:ARE.
In the eight year period from 2005 to 2012, Entergy and its associated coalitions spent just over $4 million on lobbying at the New York State level. Figure 1 includes
$2.99 million from Entergy,
$777,000 from the SHARE Coalition, and $534,000 from NY AREA. During the same period, Entergy and its associated coali-tions made $573,225 in campaign contributions.
$523,254 Iii Campaign Contributions
- Lobbying Expenditures came directly from Entergy's political action committee, with the remainder from Entergy executives and NY AREA and SHARE employees and board membersd.
Entergy officially launched its campaign to relicense Indian Point in November 2006, and since that date the company's aggregate New York State lobbying expendi-tures and campaign contributions have steadily increased, growing by roughly 33% each election cycle as the license expiration approaches.
d $573,225 total campaign contributions from 2005 through 2012, includes
$523,254 from Entergy's PAC, $6,505 from Entergy executives,
$28,936 from Arthur Kremer (President of NY AREA), and $14,530 from Frank Fraley (President of SHARE Coalition) and SHARE board members.
Common Cause i'Jn,* York i page: l3 I I I II I i I I f ! I i '* ! I ,, I i II i li !f It i ' '
l' Parkside Group LLC $1,318,811.11
- McMahon, a Weinraub, LLC $1,036,223.00 Featherstonhaugh, Wiley, Clyne a Cordo LLP $780,095.00 Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz,
- Edelman, a Dicker LLP $291,723.00 NY AREA Vidal Group .LLC Davidoff MaHto 8: Hutcher LLP Regional Programs Inc. SHARE Entergy Total spending increased from $706,403 in the 2006 cycle to $960,903 in the 2008 cycle, $1,249,018 in the 2010 cycle, and $1,666,747in the 2012 cycle. It is important to note that these totals do not fully capture all of Entergy's political spending.
Entergy's public relations and grassroots campaign spending is not reported as lobbying, nor are its politically strategic donations to non-profits and local com-munity groups45 reported as political contributions.
Since 2005, Entergy has engaged a total of six New York State lobbying firms. (see Table 1) NY AREA, led by influential former New York Assemblyman Arthur $210,849.00
$138,106.00
$120,000.00
$47,500.00
$43,577.78
$22,961.00 Kremer,46lobbies on its own behalf and via Kremer's firm Regional Programs Inc. The SHARE coalition lobbies on iti own behalf and is also represented by the Parkside Group LLC. Parkside Group LLC has been Entergy's top lobbyist since 2005, with $585,000 in spending from Entergy di-rectly and $733,811.11 from the SHARE coalition.
Parkside is one of the mcist influential and well-connected lobbying and political consulting firms in the New York City met-ropolitan area47* The firm has consulted for two sitting Congressmen, fourteen State Senators, seventeen Assembly
- members, and twelve New York City Councilmembers 48* page 1 '! / Generating Jnfluence:
Politico I Spending and the Rattle over the lndion Point Nuckor Plan' Brown McMahon & Weinraub and Featherstonhaugh, Wiley, Clyne & Cordo have also been retainedby Entergy since 2005. In 2010, Entergy briefly retained
- Davidoff, Malito, & Hutcher LLP. In July 2010, Entergy retained Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, the top lobbying firm in the state, and added The Vidal Group in 2011, bringing its currently retained New York State lobbyist total to five firms.
MOt1EY Entergy's political contributions in New York State are highly concentrated on the State Legislature, the political parties' "soft money" accounts, and strategically chosen officials and committees in the Hudson Valley and New York City area. (see Figure 2) Figure 2 Entergy and Associated Coalitions NYS Campaign Contributions by Type: 2005-2012 I r: I ! : ! :' ! Entergy and Associated Coalitions:
New York State Legislature Campaign Contributions by Type and Party Entergy has made very few contributions to the statewide offices of Governor, Attorney
- General, and Comptroller.
This pattern may be due to the fact that officials in these offices have generally been opponents of nuclear energy during this period. More than half of all Entergy contributions
-over $308,000-went to the candidates and committees of the State Legislature (see Figure 3). In the State Senate, where party control has swung back and forth, total contributions to candidates are nearly evenly split between the parties.
Iii Democrats
-I DC *oemocrats
- Republicans In the State Assembly, candidates in the Democratic majority have received the vast majority of contributions.
These monies are split among a large number of candi-dates, mostly from Westchester and New York City. Of the roughly $14,000 in contributions to Republican Assembly
- members, over went to Will Barclay, who rep-resents District 120 in Oswego County where Entergy's FitzPatrick Nuclear Plant is located.
For the legislative committee "soft money" accounts, Entergy has steadily made donations ranging from $500 to $5,000 to the Senate Republicans' account multiple I,* times each year since 2005. The Assembly Democrats' soft the Senate Democrats and Assembly Republicans have money account has also received annual donations, while received comparatively less. lOP NEW YORK STATE-lEVEL RfCIPiENTS Table 2: Top New York State-Level Candidate Recipients of Entergy Contributions
.;ifpp iNrs
' :' Rttipients
_ -* : f$5,0DOi:9
-' ' 1. Kevin Parker 2. David Paterson
- 3. George Maziarz 4. William Barclay 5. Bill .Thompson
$20,300.00
$20,000.00
$11,250.00
$11,100.00
$9,950.00 (continued on page 18) OEM 21 OEM REP 62 REP 120 OEM ilio.catinn
' : Descrlptinn
- Brooklyn Chair of Senate Energy (2009-2010)Ranking Member of Senate Energy (2011-2012). Firmly against the closure of Indian Point, believes it would result in dr-amatic increases in electricity rates49 Statewide Governor from 2008 -2010, previously lt. Governor and State Senator representing Har-I em. Supported the closure of Indian Point as lt. Governor and Governor50 Niagara County Chair of Senate Energy (2010-2012),
strong supporter of Indian P.oint, believes its closure would result in dramatic
.increases in electricity rates 51 Oswego County Assemblyman repn:senting Oswego County since 2002, unsuccessfully ran for State Sen-ate against Darryl Aubertine in 2008. Strong supporter of the nuClear industry and firmly against the closure -of Indian Point. 52 His law 1* firm, Hiscock and BarClay U:P, has represented Entergl3 in legal battles.
New York City Candidate for NYC Mayor in 2009 and 2013. $3,500 directly from Entergy,
$5,950 from SHARE Coalition President Frank Fraley and board member Michael *Nairne.
(Table 2 continued:
.i '"'-= . -* , -'-__
---_ -:-* ---_, -: * -+"" " -' -
. , _,,,.,; . -' -.:--..,.<', 6. Dean Skelos $9,000.00 REP 9 Nassau Senate Majority leader in and 2010-2012, currently co-President of the Senate with Jeff Klein (D-lDC).
- 7. Jim Wright $8,740.00 REP 48 North Chair of Senate Energy (2005-2007),
suppo Country, of the nuclear industry.
Retired fmm State Oswego Senate in December 2007, became lobbyist 1 County Government Relations, nc Executive Director of Development Authorit of the North Countrl4 8. Ruth
$8,700.00 OEM 36 North Bronx, State Senator representing minority commu Westchester
-nities in the North Bronx and Mount Vernor r Mount Vernon Does not have a vocal public position on lno Point I 9. Rob Astorino
$8;650.00 REP Westchester Westchester County .Executive since 2009, I County formerly
- a County legislator.
Strong supper I, ! of Indian *Point and nuclear energl5* One o -Astorino's key staffers is a former Director I of Communications for Entergy and Astorino I i has bee.n accused of overly close ties to the I compa.nl6* II II $8;550.00 OEM Westchester-I' 10. James Gary Pretlow 89 Assemblyman representing minority commu ,, il Mount Vernon, nities .in Mount Vernon and Yonkers.
Does n* !I ii Yonkers have a vocal*public.position on Indian Point *I !I ii 11; EliotSpitzer
.$8,500.00 OEM Statewide Governor from 2007-2008, publically suppo ii II ed the closure of Indian *Point *as soon as th 'I ,, is sufficient replacement.power available."
57 :f if: I 12. Dar.rylAubertine
.$8;100.00 OEM 48 Oswego State Senator defeated in 2010 election by I County Pattie Ritchie."
Strong supporter ofthe.nucle I, industry and of building an additional reactt I,; *in Oswego 58* 13. Michael Gianar.is
$6,250.00 OEM 12 Queens State$enator representing
- Astoria, Queens. Silpporter.of
- nuclear energy. and Indian Po in believes it is a good *alternative to "pollution spewing"
- fossil fuel plantss9 14. Greg Ball $6;050.00 REP 40 Westchester, State Senator representing Indian Point's Putnam, location in Buchanan, supporter*
of the *nucle Dutchess industry.
Against the closure of Indian Point Counties believes it would result' in dramatic increase!
electricity rates60 page J 8 I Generating Influence:
Entergy's Political Spending and liw Battk over the Indian Pnint Nuclear*
Power Plant
) j l I j I I I I ! I I ,; Entergy is highly strategic and targeted in its campaign coalition, is a former Chief of Staff to former Mount contributions, with geography (proximity to one of their Vernon Mayor Ernie Davis and is currently the President New York plants) and policy position on nuclear energy of the Mount Vernon Chamber ofCommerce.
61 In addition playing a major role in disbursement of contributions.
to the contributions to State Senator Hassell-Thompson and Assemblyman
- Pretlow, Entergy and Mr. Fraley have Looking at the top New York State candidate recipients, contributed a total of $2,890 to the Mount Vernon City many are in positions of power or influence relative to ---*--------*
The company appears to be using its can1paign contributions as a strategic rneans of cultivating and developing relationships with supporters of its position in favor of nuclear energy. -------*-
---either Indian Point in northern Westchester or the Committee,
$2,600 to Mayor Clinton Young, and $1,250 to FitzPatrick nuclear plant in Oswego County. Most, Mayor Ernie Davis. including Kevin Parker, George Maziarz, Will Barclay, It is also particularly striking that the most vocal Jim Wright, Rob Astorino, Darryl Aubertine, Michael opponents of Indian Point, including Governor Andrew Gianaris, and Greg Ball, are also on the record as Cuomo, Chair of the Assembly Energy Committee Kevin supporters of nuclear energy. Cahill63, and former Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, have Bill Thompson, Ruth Hassel-Thompson, and James Gary received ZERO contributions from Entergy.
It is often Pretlow are not outspoken on the issue of Indian Point and more typical for special interests to donate to whoever has nuclear power but these donations appear to be part of power over decision-making, regardless of policy stance. Entergy's concerted strategy to build support among the The company appears to be using its campaign contribu-minority communities of Westchester and New York City. Mount Vernon seems a particular target of this approach.
tions as a strategic means of cultivating and developing relationships with supporters of its position in favor Frank Fraley, the President of the SHARE of nuclear energy. CorrHnon Cause >.;e,,v York \ p2gc l9 TOP NE STATf-ltVtl COMMIJTEt/PAC RECIPIENTS Of ENTERCY CONTRIBUTIONS Table 3: Top New York State-Level Committee/PAC Recipients of Entergy Contributions
- 1. NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee
, 2. NYS Democratic Committee
$52,200.00
- 3. Westchester Republican County Committee
$39,000.00
- 4. JPPNY-PAC $24,000.00
- 5. NYS Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee
$20,250.00
- 6. NYS Democratic Senate Campaign Committee
$15,300.00
- 7. Republican Assembly Campaign Committee
$8,750.00
- 8. New York Republican State Committee
$5,500.00
- 9. Westchester County Democratic Committee
$3,800.00
- 10. Bronx Democratic County Committee
Westchester Statewide Statewide Statewide Statewide Statewide Westchester Bronx soft money campaign account New York State . Democratic Party soft money account Westchester County Republicans' soft .money account Independent Power Producers of New York: power plant owners' trade ciation Assembly Democrats'.
soft money campaign account Senate Democrats' soft money campaign account Assembly licans' soft money campaign account New York State Republican Party soft money account Westchester County Democrats' soft money account Bronx County Democrats' soft money account (continued on page 21 uage 20 Generating lntlucnce:
fcnterg;/s p(,Jiticai Spending and the Battle over the Indian Point i\'uclear Power Plant (Table 3 continued)
Pac formed by Re-w 11. Common Sense Now PAC $3,100.00
"{REP) Statewide publican County Executive Rob Astorino's Chlef of Staff George Oros 12. Energy for New York PAC $3;000.00
.. Statewide PAC of the Energy Association of NYS -.. trade association of utilities that disband-ed in 2010 .13. Mount Vernon City Committee
$2,890.00 OEM Mount Democratic.
club in Vernon Mount Vernon -$2.490 of this tota I is from frank 'Fraley, head of the SHARE Coalif10n.
- 14. The IDC Initiative
$2,500;00 OEM-Statewide Independent Demo-IDC cratic Conference's soft money account 15. The Business Council PAC Inc. $2,250.00
.. Statewide Primary statewide business association in NYS Entergy's donations to committees and PACs in New York soft money account,
$8,650 to County Executive Rob State are also highly targeted.
(See Table 3) In addition to Astorino,
$4,000 to County Legislator John Testa (former the already discussed State Legislature soft money, Entergy Mayor of Peekskill, currently represents the Peekskill-has given over $52,000 to the New York State Democratic Buchanan Indian Point district),
$1,700 to former Yonkers Committee account and $5,500 to the New York Mayor Phil Amicone, and $800 to the Cortlandt Republi-Republican State Committee.
can Committee.
Entergy has been very generous to the Westchester Entergy has also given $3,100 to the "Common Sense Republican County Committee, contributing a total of Now" PAC formed by County Executive Astorino's Chief $57,250 since 2005 to party candidates, committees, and of Staff George Oros,63 who formerly represented the PACs. This total includes
$39,000 to the Westchester GOP Peekskill and Buchanan areas in the County Legislature.
Common Cause New York I page 21 Astorino is a longtime supporter of Indian Point dating back to his time in the County Legislature and replaced Andy Spano (D), a firm opponent oflndian Point, as County Executive in 2010.64 Astorino's Director of Economic Development, Larry Gottleib, was the Director of Communications for Entergy before joining Astorino's administration.
As a County Legislator in 2005, Astorino was accused of adopting talking points on Indian Point directly from an email exchange with Mr. Gottleib at Entergy65* Considering these deep ties to Mr. Astorino, it is not sur-prising that county and local level Democrats in West-chester have received far less support in campaign contri-butions from Entergy, a total of $11,100 since 2005. This includes
$3,800 for the Westchester County Democratic Committee,
$2,750 for County Legislator Ken Jenkins,
$3,000 for current Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, and $1,550 for the Peekskill Democratic City Committee.
Entergy has also given $24,000 to the political action com-mittee ofthe Independent Power Producers of New York (IPPNY),
and $2,250 to the PAC of the Business Council of New York State, two influential business associations that support the renewal of Indian Point's licenses.
In addition to contributing to these political action committees, newly available disclosures on the funding of 50lc4 organiza-tions66 reveal that Entergy has contributed
$3,659 directly to the Business Council coffers in the second half of 2012, and $3,294 directly to IPPNY in December 2012. Both organizations are advisory board members of NY AREA and have been a constant presence advocating for Indian Point at governmental hearings and in the media.67 lE ll,[ 111 Rl Entergy's strategy of building support for Indian Point and nuclear power among key business and labor sectors through the NY AREA and SHARE coalitions has been quite successful in winning powerful allies. Supporters of Entergy's two connected coalitions (NY AREA and SHARE) include many of the most influential business organizations and labor unions in the state. Organizations represented on the NY AREA advisory board that lobby and/or contribute in New York include Boilermakers Local #5, the Business Council ofWestches-ter, the Business Council of New York State, the New York State AFL-CIO, and the Partnership for New York City. Member organizations of SHARE that lobby and/or con-* tribute in New York include the International Union of Operating Engineers
- Locall4, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Joint Council 16, the Mason Figure 4 Opponents of Indian Point vs. Supporters of Indian Point (not including Entergy)
NYS Lobbying and Campaign Contributions:
2005 --2012 Iii Campaign Contributions
- .*11
.. . .
- *. Common New York I page 23 Tenders District
- Council, the New York City District Council of Carpenters, New York State Laborers, andRe-gional Aid for Interim Needs, a social service organization based in the Bronx. Altogether, these organizations have spent $11.2 million on lobbying in New York State and $6.05 million in campaign contributions since 2005. These organizations are in-valved in a multitude of policy issues of which policy on Indian Point may only be a secondary or tertiary concern.
Nevertheless, these numbers do provide an indicator of the significant clout these supporting business associations and labor unions have in New York. Overall, organizations in support of Entergy's position on Indian Point (as indicated by membership in NY AREA or SHARE) have spent nearly three times. as much on NY AREA Chairman Jerry Kremer speaks at a press conference with labor and business allies in advance of the October 2012 NRC hearing.69 lobbying and campaign contributions than the numerous environmental and civic organizations that have advocated for the plant's closure.
Organizations that oppose Indian Point and have lob-hied and/or have board members or employees that have contributed at the New York State or local level include the Children's Health Fund, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Citizens Environmental Coalition, Environ-mental Advocates of New York, Healthy Schools Network, NRDC, NYPIRG, Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson, and the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter.
Altogether, environmental and civic groups opposing the renewal of Indian Point's license have spent $4.4 million on lobbying and affiliated employees and board members have spent $1.49 million on campaign contributions.
page 24 f Jniluencc:
Poiit!cd Spend!nt:
tht O':cr the Fo\ver Plant l decommissioning, and certification of nuclear plants and also develops and enforces regulations.
Congress crafts key While state and local support are crucial factors in deter-policies such as federal loan guarantees and other subsi-mining policy on issues such as the opening or closing of dies and supports.
70 The civilian nuclear power industry a power plant, federal energy policy sets the framework in is deeply enmeshed in the federal government and has which these decisions are made. tremendous stakes in federal energy policy decisions.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, headed by five Com-At the federal level across the nation, Entergy and its missioners appointed by the President and confirmed by executives have donated roughly $4.17 million71 to can-the Senate for five year terms,69 oversees licensing,
- didates, PACS, and committees since 2005. (see Figure 5) Entergy:
Total Federal lobbying and Campaign Contributions Figure 5 liCampaign Contributions
- Lobbying Expenditures This sum includes nearly one million dollars to the parties' Senate and Congressional campaign committees
-roughly a quarter million each to the National Republican Con-gressional Committee, the Democratic Congressional
- Campaign, Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
also gave over $160,000 combined to Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu (D) and two affiliated PACs, and roughly $60,000 to Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor (D) and his iated PAC. Former Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln (D) and her PAC received
$74,000 from Entergy and became a board member after losing re-election in 2010.75 Former Louisiana Blue Dog Democrat turned Republican turned At the federal level across the Entergy and its executives have donated roughly $4. 7 7 tnillion to candidates!
PACS, and con1mittees since 2005. -'-------*--------------***----------
Other large committee recipients of Entergy funding at the include two influential industry lobbying
- outfits, the Nuclear Energy Institute
($138,250) and the Edison Electric Institute
($92,000).
Entergy also has close ties with the US Chamber of Commerce.
Board member Stuart Levenick, a Group President at Caterpillar, is on the executive board of the US Chamber,72 which supports the renewal of Indian Point's license73 and has filed amicus briefs in support of Entergy in nuclear iegal cases74* Entergy is a very active support of centrist and conserva-tive-leaning congressional Democrats, giving $160,000 combined to the Blue Dog PAC, the Moderate Demo-crats PAC, and the New Democrat Coalition.
Entergy lobbyist Billy Tauzin, notorious for his role as a lobbyist for the pharmaceutical industry during the drafting of the Affordable Care Acf6, is also on the Entergy board of directors.
Other top recipients include Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson (D) ($69,749) and his affiliated PAC, President Obama and affiliated PACs ($65,400),
Texas Congressman Joe Barton (R) ($49,500),
the Chairman Emeritus of House Energy and his affiliated PAC, Steny Hoyer (D) and his affiliated PACs ($40,500),
Michigan Congressman Fred Upton (R) ($39,600),
the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn (D) and his PAC page 26 I Generating Influence:
Entergy's Politicnl Spending and tbc Battk over the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant
($22,500),
and the Congressional Black Caucus ($20,000).
Since 2005, Entergy has spent a total of roughly $31.4 million lobbying the federal government, retaining a total of eighteen lobbying firms. These firms include such heavy hitters as the Breaux Lott Leadership Group, Daryl Owen Associates, McGlotten
& Jarvis, Patton Boggs LLP, and Quinn Gillespie, and are armed with dozens of influential revolving-door Washington insiders.
Entergy's combined lobbying and campaign con-tributions increased by 57% for the 2008 cycle compared to the 2006 cycle. Spending continued to increase another 17% for the 2010 cycle before decreasing by 10% in the 2012 cycle. Exelon, and Duke Energy have aggressively moved to reha-bilitate the industry's reputation in order to secure license The significant bump in spending between 2006 and 2008 renewals, construct new reactors at existing plant sites, is consistent with a pattern within the nuclear industry and open the possibility of new plant construction.
Much as a whole. Over the past decade, the industry has under-of this national effort is coordinated through the Nuclear taken a concerted campaign to improve its standing with the public and political establishment, especially with Energy Institute.
78 "' &, the Democratic Party, as a "clean" greenhouse gas emis-For Entergy specifkally, the surge in political spending on f'" 0 I Q ..... "' "' sions-free alternative to fossil fuels.77 With the industry the federal level after the 2006 cycle is also likely connect-(!) :;s s suffering enormous damage from the Three Mile Island ed to three ongoing politically challenging license renewals 0 u <.,..; ,., <') partial-meltdown in 1979 and the Chernobyl disaster in in the Northeast US; the Pilgrim Nuclear Plant in N -1986, no new nuclear plants have been built in the United Massachusetts, the Vermont Yankee Plant, and most .8 0 ..<:: 0... States since 1977. Corporate plant owners like Entergy, significantly, Indian Point in New York.
CAMPAIGN CONTRiBUTiONS TO NE £0NCRESSIONAL As the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's decision on 2005-2008, Kirsten Gillibrand 2008-Present) and ten of the Indian Point's operating licenses approaches, Entergy has state's Congress members have received at least $5,000 in significantly increased its campaign contributions to New campaign contributions from Entergy.
York candidates at the federal level. Since 2005, Entergy and its executives have contributed a total of $158,170 to The list of top New York congressional recipients of New York Senators and Congress members.
Entergy contributions is again illustrative of the During this period, each of New York's three sitting company's highly strategic and targeted method of distributing campaign cash. Senators (Chuck Schumer 2005-Present, Hillary Clinton Figure 6 Entergy:
Federal Campaign Contributions to New York Congressional Candidates
- campaign Contributions page 28 / Generating Influence:
Entergy's PoliticaJ Spending and the Battle over the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Tabfe 4: Top New York Congressional Candidate Recipients of Entergy Donations _
( -' -! -r / ' -'I J-' >, I ' 1. Nan Hayworth
- 2. Edolphus Towns 3. Kirsten Gillibrand
- 4. Peter King 5. Joseph Crowley 6 .. John McHugh 7. Bill Owens B. Michael McMahon $23,200.00 REP $14,000.00 OEM $14,000.00 OEM $11,000.00 REP $9,500.00 OEM $8,500.00 REP $8,000.00 OEM $7,250.00 OEM 19 Hudson Valley (now 18) 10 Brooklyn (now 8)
- Statewide 3 and 2 Long Island 7 and 14 Que.ens, Bronx 23 North Country, (now 21) Oswego 23 and21 North Country,
- Oswego ; 13 Staten Island, (now 11) South Brooklyn Congressional district numbers in New York State all changed after the state lost two districts during the redistricting of 2011. (continued on page 30) District induded the Indian Point site in Buchanan.
Before losing a close race in 2012, Hayworth was a vocal supporter of Entergy and Indian Point. 79 Before retiring in 2012, Ed Towns was an 'mfluen-tial senior member of Congress and a member of the energy committee.
In 2007 he co-sponsored legislation to expedite the Yucca Mountain nuclear was disposal
- facility, a measure strongly supported by the industry80 New York's junior Senator, Gillibrand supports the nu-clear ind ustr.y and favors development of new plants where they are supported by local communities, while also advocating for additional oversight 81* Senior Republican Congressman in New York, two time Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.
Supports expanding nuclear energy "in areas of the country that don't have evacuation concerns 82" Senior Democratic Congressman, Chair ofthe Queens County Democratic Party. Supporter of nuclear energy <md a key figure .in the United States' recognition of India as a legitimate nuClear power. Continues to support the *entry of US nuclear companies into the Indian market83* Former Congressman representing the North Country and Oswego from 2003 to 2009, strong supporter of nuclear energy and Entergy's FitzPatrick plant84 Represented.
Oswego *until 2012 redistricting, sup-porter of nuelear energy and of building new nuclear plants in the North Country85 Former Congressman representing Staten Island from 2008-2010, supporter of the nuclear power,86 co-sponsored the Nuclear Power 2021 Act to encour-age the develllpment of a new generation of plants. 87 (Table 4 continued)
- 9. Scott Murphy . $7,000.00 OEM 20 Hudson Valley, Winner of the 2009 Special Election to replace (now 19) Catskills, North Kirsten Gillibrand, lost his re-election effort in 2010. Country Strong supporter of the nuclear industry, co-spon-sored the Nuclear Power 2021 Act to encourage the development of a new generation of plants. Strong supporter
.of the nuclear industry, co-sponsored the Nuclear Power.2021 Act to .encourage the develop-ment of a new generation of .plants.
88 10. Chuck Schumer $7,000.00 DEM
- Statewide New York's senior Senator .arid the third-rankiJlg Senate Democrat in the nation. Generally supportive
.of the nucl.ear
- industry, stated "I'm still 'Willing to look at nuclear" after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Has supported
- additional safety measures at Indian Point but does not call for the plant's closure.
89 11. Hillary Clinton $6,220.00 OEM
- Statewide New York Senator from 2001 through 2009. Self described "agnostiC" on nuclear power. Supported increased regulation and safety measures at Indian Point but has called for the. plant's closure.90 . . Her :2008: Presidential campaign received an addition-al :$20,000 in Enter,gy donations.
- 12. Charles Rangel $5,500.00 OEM 15 and 13 Upper In Coil,gress since 1971,was briefly one ofthe most Manhattan
- powerful Congr.essional Democrats as Chairman of Ways and Means from 2007 to 2010 before an ethics scandal.
- 13. Steve Israel $5,000.00 DEM 2 and 3 long Island In 2001. currently chair of the DCCC. Supporter nudear industry and its expansion 91 page 30 Influence:
Enterg,*s Political Spending and the Battle over the lndim Point Nuclear Power Plant The top recipient of Entergy contributions, Nan Hayworth (R),
$23,200 entirely during the 2012 election cycle. This sum includes
$9,700 from Entergy executives and $14,000 from the Entergy PAC. Representing the Hudson Valley district that includes Indian Point (District 19 before redistricting, now District 18), Hayworth was a freshman incumbent who was vocal in her support for the renewal of the plant's license.
Her opponent (now the new Congressman for the district)
Sean Patrick Maloney (D), was strongly against the license renewal, preferring to "close Indian Point as quickly as possible."
92 Mr. Maloney did not receive any support from Entergy, nor have other vocal anti-Indian Point tatives such as Congressman Eliot Engel, Congresswoman Nita Lowey, and former Congressman John Hall. Indeed, at both the state and the federal levels in New York, Entergy's contribution patterns appear to be closely tied to the recipient's issue stance on nuclear power. This pattern is consistent with Hall and Deardorff's model of "Lobbying as a Legislative Subsidy93" in which lobbying a.nd contributions are primarily used to cultivate and fortify supporters rather than attempting to "flip" those in opposition.
But the correlation between support for the issue and reward in the form of campaign contributions may play a role in influencing the stances of candidates, particularly those without strong ideological predispositions.
Two of the New York Congressmen on this list also have additional connections to Entergy.
Christopher nell served as Congressman Joe Crowley's Chief of Staff from 1999 to 2007.94 While in Crowley's office, nell worked to build support for Indian Point and nuclear energy among other House Democrats.
95 McCannell then moved through the revolving door to become a lobbyist for Quinn Gillespie
& Associates in 2007 and lobbied on behalf of Entergy Nuclear Northeast, presumably on the very same Indian Point issue.96 McCannell then passed back through the revolving door to become Chief of Staff for Congressman Michael McMahon, a one-term ber from Staten Island who also was a strong supporter of nuclear energy. Christopher McCannell's revolving door journey is just one indication of the kind of influence and access that $31.4 million in and $4.2 million in campaign contributions can achieve in Washington.
the Year award for their work on the campaign.
100 Indian Point's public website, www.safesecurevital.org, continues to be owned and maintained by Burson Marsteller.
101 The firm has also helped coordinate Entergy's outreach and relationship-building with non-profit organizations in Entergy's direct lobbying and campaign contributions only Westchester and New York City.102 cover a portion of its influence-making activities.
In addi-tion to this "inside game" there is also the "outside game" Entergy's advertising campaigns are ubiquitous across the of grassroots strategies and advertising to build public New York City metropolitan region. For nearly a decade, support.
Such expenses are not disclosed in official report-New York Yankees radio host John Sterling has reassured listeners that Indian Point is "safe, secure, and vital" with ing, yet they are an essential aspect of Entergy's campaign "zero greenhouse gases and reliable energy."
Since 2003, to keep Indian Point open. former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's consulting Entergy's advertising and public relations on Indian Point firm, Giuliani
- Partners, has been retained by Entergy!03 are coordinated by public relations firm Burson Marsteller, ostensibly to "provide advice on emergency planning and known for its work in "reputation and crisis management security matters."
strategies.
97" The firm's clients have included highly con-troversial corporations like Union Carbide, Philip Morris, However, Giuliani's support for Indian Point and Entergy's other nuclear plants has always been very public and he Blackwater,
- Foxconn, and Babcock & Wilcox (the firm that designed the Three Mile Island nuclear plant) among others98* Entergy initially hired Burson Enterg)/s advertising and public relations on Indian Point are coordinated by public relations finn Burson Marstellet; known for its work in and crisis tnanagement strategies.
97" Marsteller in 2002 to address fears over Indian Point's vulnerability to terrorism after Sep-has appeared at numerous press conferences and events on tember l11h.99 Burson Marsteller coined the slogan "Safe, behalf ofEntergy.
104 After the 20ll FuJmshima
- incident, Secure, Vital" and won the Public Affairs Campaign of Giuliani began to directly appear in television, radio, and print advertisements as part of Entergy's "Right for New York" campaign to reassure the public on nuclear safety.105 Currently, Entergy is also running a more locally targeted campaign called "Your Positive Energy."106 In one radio Rudy Giuliani in Entergy's "Right for New York" Campaign advertisement, a woman's voice announces "Indian Point is committed to ensuring the continued supply of reliable clean and affordable energy for all New Yorkers.
We are focused on bringing positive energy into communities
... We need your voice; we need your positive energy. Go to YourPositiveEnergy.com to tell us how you are bringing positive energy into New York."107 In another less formal spot, the DJ for Westchester radio station WFAS raves "What an afternoon that I spent terday with my colleagues up at Indian Point ... you really need more than a day, it's like going to Disney World, you can't see it all in one day .. .if you're concerned about Indian Point and you have questions, there's a lot of tions, knowledge is the key."108 Although these advertisements are clearly designed to influence public opinion (and thus public officials) these campaigns are not legally considered "lobbying" because they do not explicitly ask the public to contact their sentatives to advocate for cific legislation or policy on Indian Point. Entergy does not disclose their cost as lobby-ing expenses.
But the website these ads direct the public to, www.safesecurevital.org, offers detailed information on the license renewal process and public hearings.
The line between public relations and lobbying is increasingly blurred as corporate advertising campaigns and grassroots strategies grow more and more sophisticated.
Considering the consistency, volume, and breadth of the advertising and comparing it with itemized expenses from similar campaigns in New York State109, it is conservative to estimate that Entergy has spent at least $20 million on advertising and public relations in New York since 2005.
Entergy's campaign to build local support for Indian Point has also involved numerous grants and targeted donations to local government and non-profit organizations.
In 2009, Entergy established a "Safety Responders Fund" grant program that has awarded over $1.25 million in grants to local fire, police,*and emergency medical response teams within the 10 mile area around Indian Point.U0 In tion, Entergy gives small grants to a variety of non-profit organizations in the area, from youth sports leagues, to performing arts venues, to local parksY' Many of these organizations have testified at public hearings on behalf of Entergy's corporate citizenship in support of granting Indian Point a license extension 112* As mentioned earlier in this report; one aspect of Entergy's strategy to influence public opinion on Indian Point is to build support among communities of color in Westchester and New York City. In recent years, Entergy has oped relationships with many non-profit civil rights and community organizations such as 100 Black Men, the New York State NAACP, and the Bronx Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Entergy has had success in winning over many of these groups based on the argument that shutting down Indian Point will require construction of new fossil fuel plants in the area. New fossil fuel plants will reduce air quality, especially in urban areas with large minority populations where air quality is already problematic and asthma and other respiratory illnesses are prevalent.
In making this argument, Entergy has adopted the rhetoric of the environmental justice movement, 113 creating an fective framework for winning support.
But this argument depends on the alternative to Indian Point being fossil fuel plants rather than new transmission from hydropower in Canada or other renewable energy alternatives.
And Entergy has built relationships with these organizations through grants,114 sponsoring events,115 and other forms of monetary support.116 Entergy and its consultants also realize that an mental justice argument may be less than convincing coming directly from the corporation itself. This is where the SHARE (Safe, Healthy, Affordable, Reliable Energy) Coalition plays a role in creating the appearance that the argument is originating from a grassroots source within the minority community rather than Entergy.
In 2010, journalist Brian Palmer writing for lines.com, a publication of the Applied Research Center, undertook an in-depth investigation ofEntergy's astroturfing in New York's communities of color. On a tour of Indian Point for minority leaders organized by SHARE, Palmer observed deliberate attempts by SHARE employees to use race as a wedge to delegitimize nuclear environmental groups like Riverkeeper.
I've never seen Bobby Kennedy walk around 125th Street .. .I'm sure he's never come down when the lights go out" said SHARE's Deputy Director Gregory Joseph. Frank T. Fraley, President of SHARE NY, leading Brooklyn Clergy members on a tour ofindian Point in JuJy, 2012.117 SHARE attempts to portray itself as a coalition of community groups working on issues of clean air and affordable electricity in generaP18* The group authors op-eds, press releases, and testimonies without reference to their funding by Entergy, 119 describing the organization as "a coalition dedicated to ensuring the continued supply of reliable, clean and affordable electricity for all New Yorkers."
But Entergy consultants and executives are listed as officers in SHARE's IRS filings.120 New York lobbyist Alfredo Vidal (The Vidal Group, retained by Entergy) is listed as President, Darren Peters (Entergy's Director of Federal Policy Initiatives) is listed as Treasurer, and Joanne Fernandez (Entergy's head of government affairs in New York) is listed as secretary.
SHARE also retains The SHARE and Entergy staff use the same table to lobby at the NYS Black, Puerto-Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus in February 2013.101 Parkside Group as its New York lobbyist, a firm that also represents Entergy.
Judging from SHARE's own news feedf it is very clear that the group's purpose is to advocate for the extension of Indian Point's license.
In addition to testifying and orga-nizing turnout at public hearings, the group has repeatedly organized tours of Indian Point for minority community leaders122. Colorlines' Palmer attended one of these tours and observed that the intimate relationship between SHARE and Entergy was never disclosed to the guests.123 The SHARE coalition is not Entergy's first attempt to create a front group for outreach to minority communities.
In 2003 Entergy engaged in the very same strategy called ' the "Campaign for Affordable Energy, Environmental, and Economic Justice"124 but was exposed and widely criticized in the media and by then County Executive Andy Spano.125 f httpdlshareny.orglnews.php
. In 2012, 9 out of 17 press releases issued by SHARE directly addressed Indian Point or Entergy, and an additional one is a testimony against Governor Cuomo's proposed "Energy Highway" of transmission from Canada (which would help replace the power provided by Indian Point). The other seven releases are descriptions of community events that SHARE has participated in to spread its message.
(http:/!sharenv.orglnews.php
.)
In this earlier instance, Entergy used its direct corporate name and its own employees to conduct parts of the paign, leading to a backlash from the communities and representatives that were targeted.
The SHARE campaign has been much more tactful.
While the SHARE coalition serves as Entergy's grassroots front group, NY AREA (Affordable Reliable Electrici-ty Alliance) serves the role of the grasstops front group, bringing together powerful statewide business and labor groups in support of Indian Point. NY AREA's Chairman is former Assemblyman Arthur "Jerry" Kremer, a constant presence in the media, writing op-eds126, speaking on els, and issuing policy briefs in support of Indian Point. Entergy's spokespeople have admitted thanhe company was "instrumental in the founding of New York AREA,127" which launched in 2006 with the commencement of Entergy's campaign to renew Indian Point's license.
As is the case with SHARE, Entergy executives are listed as officers in NY AREA's IRS filings.128 In this case it's Ken Theobalds, Entergy Nuclear Northeast's Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs.
John Basile, a retired former plant manager of Indian Point 2, is also listed as an officer129* Another officer listed in NY AREA's IRS filings is Mark Serrano of ProActive Communications.
Shortly after NY AREA was started, an organization named "Massachusetts
_AREA also sprung up to advocate for the renewal of the license at Entergy's Pilgrim nuclear plant. And a "Vermont Energy Partnership" appeared to advocate for Entergy's Vermont Yankee license renewal.
All three groups used ProActive Communications to handle their public tions, in some cases sharing the exact wording of als, and all three groups made use of former Green peace activist Patrick Moore as a spokesperson 130* Like SHARE, NY AREA's press releases and other rials are overwhelmingly focused on support for nuclear power and Indian Point,I3!
and NY AREA spokespeople do not typically disclose their group's intimate connection with Entergy.
Both SHARE and NY AREA are registered with the IRS as SOle 6 organizations, a status reserved for business or trade associations lobbying for a common business interest of all members in the organization 132* The IRS requires SOle 6 groups to define the "common business interest" in the Form 990 filings.
SHARE defines their purpose as "to educate and ensure the continued supply of reliable, clean, and affordable energy for all New Yorkers."
NY AREA defines their purpose as promoting "safe and reliable energy sources."
The SOle 6 status effectively veils the role ofEntergy in each group because funding can be ed to "membership dues" without specifying what specific A*R*E*A ' gj! Yes! I want to join the Massachusetts Affordable Reliable Electridty Alliance.
1 support your efforts to educate communities regarding the necessity for safe, reliable energy and advocacy to ensure that Massachusetts has an ample and reliabie electricity supply and economic prosperity for years to come .... Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution of: Yes ! 1 want to join the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance.
'I support your efforts to educate communities regarding the necessity for sa'k, reliable energy and advocacy to ensure that New York. has an ample and reliable electricity supply and economic prosperity for years to come."' Enclosed is my deductible contribution of: Yes! I want to join the Vermont Energy Partnership I support your efforts to educate communitieli regarding the necessity for safe, reliable energy and advocacy to ensure that Vermont has an ample and reliable electricity supply and emnomic prosperity for years to come.* Enclosed is my tax-deductible contribution of: Newsletters for Mass AREA, NY AREA, and the Vermont Energy Partnership share identical language and in the case of MASS AREA and Nl' AREA, identical graphic design. members are contributing.
Both SHARE and NY AREA report a range of $300,000 to $700,000 in "membership dues" annually for the past three years in their Form 990 IRS filings.
Corporate use of "front groups" like SHARE and NY AREA, also known as "astroturfing",
is an increasingly common tool in efforts to influence public opinion and policy makersY4 Front groups are effective because they conceal the corporation's self-interest, giving legitimacy to arguments and tactics that would not be as effective if made by the corporation directly135* Through advertising, retaining respected spokespeople, engaging in strategic charitable giving, and astroturfing at the grassroots and grasstops, Entergy has deployed all of the state-of-the-art techniques in lobbying and public relations in its attempt to win renewal of Indian Point's license.
Common Cause New York \ page 37 Policy decisions such the relicensing of an aging nuclear power plant are supposed to be objective judgments based in science and the best interest of the public. In reality, powerful vested interests constantly seek to influence the outcomes through whatever means neces-sary and available.
Special interests like Entergy have every right to communicate their views to policymakers and the public. But without full transparency, disclosure, and rea-sonable limits and safeguards, they can too easily achieve undue influence and subvert our democratic processes and principles.
Entergy's expansive pattern of political spend-ing illustrates the need for our laws and regulations deal-ing with political spending to keep pace with the activities of those who seek to influence public policy. Restore the Public Trust with Fafr Elections It is unsettling to consider the possibility that campaign contributions from Entergy may play a role in determining our leaders' policy positions on such an important issue. Looking at the top New York recipients, it's clear that En-tergy uses campaign contributions to cultivate supporters of nuclear energy. While it's impossible to prove that con-tributions literally "buy" votes, such correlations may play a role in influencing the stances of candidates, particularly those without strong ideological predispositions.
At the New York state level, campaign finance reform with public financing of elections would significantly help reduce candidates' dependency on raising money through large checks from special interests like Entergy.
A Fair Elections comprehensive campaign finance system, with small individual donations matched 6 to 1 by public money, provides candidates an incentive to raise the campaign funds they need directly from constituents in smaller amounts.
t s, ann pr En As corporate "astroturfing" 136 and "dark money"137 contributions continue to grow, corporate disclosures of political spending must be expanded to keep pace with actual practice in the information marketplace.
For pub-lically owned companies like Entergy, it is possible that new political disclosure rules will soon be instituted at the federal level by the SEC.138 Absent SEC action, shareholder resolutions are another means of compelling a public company to fully disclose political spending.
Shareholder resolutions calling for disclosure of political spending are rapidly becoming more common, with 115 such resolutions up for consideration in the Spring 2013 quarterP9 Entergy is one of the corporations facing such a resolution, calling for full disclosure of "company poli-cy and procedures governing
- lobbying, both direct and indirect, and grassroots lobbying communications" and all "payments by Entergy used for (a) direct or indirect lobbying or (b) grassroots lobbying communications, in each case including the amount of the payment and the recipient."
Entergy's board is unanimously opposing the resolution, claiming that such reporting would be "unduly burden-some"; that the company follows all state and federal disclosure regulations and already self-discloses its polit-ical contributions through an annual report.140 However, Entergy's current self-reporting is highly misleading and incomplete-it does not report giving by its PAC (the source of the vast majority of Entergy donations),
its lobby-ing expenditures, or its role in contributing to front groups like NY AREA and SHARE. State and local governments can also act to compel addi-tional disclosures of corporate political spending.
In New York, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli is using the investing power of the state's pension fund as leverage in his attempts to increase disclosures.
141 New York State also recently began enforcement of a new requirement in the New York Lobbying Act requiring the disclosure of the source of funding used for lobbying activities by non-prof-it organizations 142* It appears that both SHARE and NY AREA may be in violation of that disclosure requirement.
Both entities should be required to comply with the new provisions and disclose the source of their funding.
Many of the recommendations that we made in our 2011, Lifting the Veil143, are applicable to Entergy's conduct.
We believe that Entergy should be identified as the leading funder on all advertisements,
- websites, and campaign materials for any grassroots lobbying campaign it pays for, directly or indirectly.
The public is entitled to know who is speaking to it at the time it receives the communication.
It is our continuing position that the identities of the top five contributors who provide $10,000 or more towards the cost of any grassroots lobbying campaign costing $100,000 or more should be disclosed on any material distributed directly to the public as part of the campaign.
In this case, this regulation would likely result in all materials generat-ed by NY AREA and SHARE to be identified as Entergy-sponsored.
The purpose of disclosure requirements is to allow the public to monitor their elected representatives' conduct and to hold them accountable for acting in the public interest.
Industry and special interests are endlessly inven-tive. Our lawmakers must be equally creative in protecting the public interest and the public's right to know. United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"Indian Point-Unit 1 29,2012.
http:llwww.
nrc.gov/info-finder/decommissioninglpower-reactorlindian-point-unit-l.html 2 Howard J, Axelrod, Energy Strategies Inc. "An Assessment of Energy Needs in Westchester County."
September 7, 2012. http://www westchesterny.org/downloads/Energy%20Needs%20Assessment%20 Fina}%20version pdf Randal C. Archibald.
"Con Edison Sel1s Indian Point 2, Its Last Major Electricity Plant." The New York Times. September 7, 2001.
point-2-its-last-major-eJectricit;y-plant.html.
United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plane* November 16,2012.
http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/fitz.htm1 5 Entergy Nuclear.
"Nuclear hnp*//www.enterey-nuclear.com/plant information/default.aspx 6 AP. "Rudy Giuliani to do ads for nuclear power plant near NYC' October 5, 2011. The Huffington Post. http://www.huffinctonpost.com/201 1 /10106/rudy-g,iuliani-nuclear-plant-ads-nyc n 997889 htrnl 7 The Center for Media and Democracy.
"Sourcewatch:
New York Affordable Reliable Electrkity Alliance."
September 2, 2010. "http://www.sourcewatch.org/index;.php?title New York Affordable liable Electricity Alliance 8 filings for Safe Healthy Affordable Energy in New York Inc. available via GuideStar at httv://www.
cuidestar.or&forganizations/30-045372 1 /safe-healthy-affordable-energ:y-new-york.amx
- IRS filings for New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance available via Guidestar at http://www.guidestar.org/
organizations/20-5860747/new-york-affordable-reliable-electricity-alliance aspx 9 Diane Farsetta.
"Moore Spin: Or, How Reporters Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Nuclear Front Groups."
PRWatch.
March 14,2007.
Brian Palmer. "The Nudear Industry's Astroturf Movement Communities of Color." Color Lines: News For Action. May 26, 2011._ ht!J?:IIcolorlines.com/archives/2011/05/the nuclear industrys fake equity concerns for people of color.html 10 Data at the federal level from the Center for Responsive Politics via Infiuence Explorer 11 Brian Tumulty.
"NRC: An Indian Point reactor threat could bring SO-mile evacuation."
The Journal News. March 17, 20!1. htm://www.lohud.com/article/201 J0317/NEWS051l03170406/NRC-An-lndian-Point-reactor-threat-could-bring-50-mile*evacuation 12 Burson Marsteller.
"Industry Specialties:
Energy;'
2012. http:/lwww.burson*marstelJer.com/Practic*
es And Soedalties!lndustry Specialties/Pages/Eoere:,v.aspx 13 Burson Marsteller.
"PRWeek Names Burson-Marsteller Large Agency of the Year at 2003 PRWeek Awards Ceremony in NYC." 2003 http://www.burson.marsteller.com/newsroorn/listsfPressReleases/
DispForm.aspx?ID-406&nodename Press%20Re1eases%20Archive 14 Whols.Net Domain Name Search for www.safesecurevital.org.
http:llwhois.net/whois/safesecurevitai.
Q!i. 15 Entergy.
"Entergy Seeks 20*year License Renewal for Indian Point Energy Center."
November 22, 2006._ http://www.entergy.com/News Room/newsrelease.as.px?NR ID 910 16 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3-License Renewal Application.
March 4, 2013. http:/!www nrc.gov/reactors/operating/licensing/renewal/
apolications/indian*point.html 17 Matthew L. Wald. "An Uncertain Phase for Nuclear Power Licenses."
The New York Times. August 9, 2012. http://green blogs nytimes.com/2012/08/09/ap*uncertain*phase.for.nudear*power*licenses/
18 Randal C. Archibald.
"Con Edison Sells Indian Point 2, Its Last Major Electricity Plant." The New York Times. September 7, 2001. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/07/nyregjon/con*edison*sel!s.indian*
point-2.its.Jast*major-electridty-plant html 19 CNN Money. "Fortune 500-Annual Ranking of America's Largest Corporations."
com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2012/full list/201 300 html 20 Elsa Brenner.
"Westchester Briefs;'
The New York Times. July 13, 1997. http://www.nytimes.
com/1997/07/13/nyregion/westchester-briefs.html 21 The Center for Media and Democracy.
"Sourcewatch:
New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance."
September 2, 2010. http*//www.sourcewatch.org/index php?title=New York Affordable able Electricity Alliance 22 Diane Farsetta 2007, ibid. 23 Laura Miller ... Chernobyl-on-the-Hudson Hires Burson Marsteller."
PRWatch.
- April25, www.prwatch.org/nodell 155 24 Robert Sullivan.
"A Slight Chance of Meltdown:*
New York Magazine.
November 6, 2011. http://nvmag.
com/news/features/indian-point
-2011-11/
25 WCBS 880. "Entergy Stunned as Governor Cuomo Continues Push to Close Indian Point." June 29, 2011.
dose-indian-point/
26 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"Backgrounder on the Three Mile Island Accident."
February 11, 2013. http://www.nrc gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/3mile-isle.html 27 World Nuclear Association.
"Chernobyl Accident 1986." December 2012. http://www.world-nuclearorg/
info/Safety-and-Security/Safety-of-Plants/Chernobyl*Accident/#.UUDPtMUS vA 28 judy Pasternak.
"Nuclear Energy Lobby Working Hard to Win Support."
Investigative Reporting shop. January 24,2010.
ine:.push/story/nuclear-energy-working-hard-win-support/*
Eric Lichtblau.
"Lobbyists Long Effort to Revive Nuclear Industry Faces New Test." The New York Times. March 24,2011.
com/20 !1103125/us/251obby.html?
r-1 & 29 Jim Snyder. "Nuclear's revival."
The Hill. March 3, 2010 ing/84595-nuclears-reyival 30 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"Backgrounder on Emergency Preparedness at Nuclear Power Plants."
October 3, 2012.
plan-prep-nuc-power-bc.html 31 Kenneth Chang. "Study Maps Faults for New York Quakes:*
The New York Times. August 25, 2008._ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26quak.html?scp=4&sq-%22Indian%20point%22%20
%20fault&st-cse 32 Kenneth Schachter.
"Indian Point evacuation plan inadequate, feds say:* Newsday.
April!!,
2013. h!!Jl.:LL 33 Jessica Glenza. "Some Indian Point Spent Fuel Moved Into Long Term Storage."
Cortland Daily Voice.' September 18,2012.
http://cortlandt.dailyyoice.com/news/some*indian-point-spent-fuel*moved-stor-
- 34 Jessica Glenza. "Former Indian Point Security Guard Sues for $1.5 billion, Alleges Security Compro-mised." Cortland Daily Voice. September 13, 2012. http://cortlandt.dailyvoice.com/news/former-indi*
an-point-security-guard-sues-lSb 35 David M. Halbfinger.
"New York Denies Indian Point a Water Permit:'
The New York Times. April 3, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/nvregion/04indian.html 36 Synapse Energy Economics Inc. '!Indian Point Replacement Analysis:
A Clean Energy Roadmap:*
October 11. 2012. htto*//www synapse-energy.com/Downloads/SynapseReport.20 12-1 an-Point-Replacement-Study.I2-047.pdf 37 Jonathan A. Lesser, Continental Economics Inc. "The Economic Impacts of Closing and Replacing the Indian Point Energy Center."
Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.
September, 2012. http://www.
manhattan-institute.org!html!eper ll.htm 38 Howard J. Axelrod 2012, ibid.
rnent%20Final%20version.pdf 39 Matthew L. Wald. "Life Without Indian Point, Redux.* The New York Times. September 7,
green.bloss.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/life-without-indian-point*redux/
40 Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition.
"What is IPSEC?" http://www.ipsecinfo.org/what is ipsec.htm 41 Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc, and New York Power Authority.
"Compliance filing with respect to development of Indian Point Contingency Plan." http:l/www.rupa.gov/LAWl-346789-vl-IP Continc-ency Plan Redacted.pdf 42 Brian Palmer 2011. ibid. 43 IRS filings for Safe Healthy Affordable Energy in New York Inc. available via GuideStar at http://www.
guidestar.orc-torganizations/30*0453721/safe-healthy*affordable-energy-new-york.aspx
- IRS filings for New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance available via Guidestar at httj?://www.guidestar.org/
organizations/20-5860747/new*york-affordable-reliable*electricity-alliance.aspx 44 Farsetta 2007, ibid; Brian Palmer 2011, ibid. 45 See as example, Entergy's
$25,000 donation to 100 Black Men, an influential civil rights organization._
or the company's tions to local safety and non-profit organizations (http://www.safesecurevital.com/community ning/redpjents.htm!)
46 Politico.
Profile:
Arthur "Jerry" Kremer."
httJ?:I/www.politico.com/arena/bio/arthur jerry krerner.htrnl 47 Tom Robbins.
"Influence Peddlers:
Trade Secrets of the City's Lobbying Firm." The Village Voice. February 21,2006.
http://www.villagevoice.com/2006-Q2.2llnewslinfluence-peddlers/.
48 The Parkside Group.
List of Clients.
http://'WWW.theparksidegroup.com/winning.php 49 Tom Casey. "NYISO: Indian Point closure could stress out state's electrical Legislative Gazette.
May 2, 2011.
point-closure-could-stress-outstates-electrical-system.html 50 New York State Office of the Attorney GeneraL "Governor Spitzer and Attorney General Cuomo Announce Effort to Halt Indian Point Relicensing."
December 3, 2007. http*//www ag ny lease/governor-spjtzer*and-attorne_y-ceneral-cuomo*announce-effort-halt-indian-point 51 Thomas Kaplan. "For Cuomo and Indian Point, New Round in a Long Fight" The New York Times. March 22,2011.
http*//www.pytimes.com/20Il/03/23/nyregion/23indian.html 52 Assemblyman William A. Barclay.
"Barclay:
Closure of Indian Point Not Justified:'
January 17, 2012. htt.p://assembly.state.ny.us/mern/William*A-Barclay/story/45973/
53 See for example, Perrino v Entergy Nuclear Indian Point 3 LLC. 48 A.D.3d 229 (2008) hcy*!!law.justia.
com/cases/new.vork/appellate-djvision*first-department/2008/2008-01016.html 54 United States Nuclear Regu1atory Commission, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation.
Letter. December 30,2004.
hcy:l/pbadupws.nrc
&ovldocs/Ml OSI6/ML05I680395 pdf 55 YNN Capital Tonight.
"Rob Astorino on Indian Point." March 21, 2011. http:Ucamtaltonightnv.vnn.
corn/2011/03/rob-astorino-on-indian-point/
56 Lisa W. Foderaro.
"A Lawmaker is Criticized Over Email with Entergy."
The New York Times. June 5, 2005. http:/ltrayel JWimes.coml2005/06105/nne¥lon/metrocarnpaie;ns/05entergy.htm}
57 New York State Office of the Attorney General2007, ibid. 58 State Senator Darrel Aubertine.
"Energy Chair Aubertine Calls New Reactor in Oswego a Priority."
June 20, 2009.
Qti!y_ 59 Katharine Jose:' "The Great Mumble: A New Generation Slouches Towards Nukes." The New York Observer.
December 22,2008.
slouches-toward-nukes/
60 State Senator Greg Ball. "Greg Ball debates Tax Hike Mike on Indian Point:' October 16,2010.
h!!o.;LL www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q zu2vnplA
- Examiner Media. "40th State Senate District
Greg Ball vs. Justin Wagner."
The Examiner.
November 2, 2012.
district-greg*ball-vs-justin-wagner/
61 Safe Healthy Affordable Reliable Energy. "Staff."
http*//shareny:org/about.php?Staff-2 62 Hugh Reynolds.
"Cahill on point-Indian Point, that is." Hugh Reynolds.
"Cahill on point-Indian Point, that is:* Kingston Times. August 2, 201!.
indian-point-that-is/
63 Common Sense Now PAC. http://commonsensenowpac.net/
64 Phil Reisman.
"Indian Point and Larry Gottleib's safety The Journal News. March 20,2011.
hcy:/lwww.lohud.com/article/20!
eb*s-safety-principle 65 Lisa W. Foderaro 2005, ibid. 66 New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics. "Source of Funding:*
2012. htt;p://www.jcope.ny.gov/
source fundinc/
67 Independent Power Producers of NY Inc. "Testimony ofiPPNY Before the NRC Regarding the Envi* ronmental Scoping Process for the Indian Point Nuclear Reactor Generating Units Nos. 2 and 3, License Renewal Application:*
September 19,2007.
hcy:llpbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0728/ML072820247.pdf; Matthew L. Wald 2012, ibid. 68 http://area-alliance.org/index.php/media-center/video/
69 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"The Commission:'
December 13,2012.
htto:llwww.nrc.
gov/about-nrc/organization/commfuncdesc.html 70 Snake River Alliance.
"White Paper -Nuclear Loan Guarantees:
Good Energy Policy?"
September 5, 2012. http://snakeriveralliance.org/white-paper-nuclear-loan-guarantees-good-energy-policy/
71 Data at the federal level comes from the Center for Responsive Politics via Influence Explorer
!h!miL influenceexplorer.com/)
72 U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"Board of Directors:*
http:llwww.uschamber.com/about/board 73 U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"Chamber Calls for Renewal of License for NY Energy Facility."
hll2ili www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2007/december/chamber-calls-renewal-license-ny-energy-facility 74 Josh Stilts. "U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Others Join Entergy in Lawsuit Against Vermont." boro Reformer.
September 10,2012.
http://www.reformercom/ci ber-commerce-and-others?source=most viewed 75 Energy. "Leadership:
Board of Directors:
Blanche Lambert Lincoln."
htt;p://www.entergy.com/about tergy!leadership/Lincoln.aspx 76 Alex Wayne and Drew Armstrong.
"Tauzin's
$11.6 Million Made Him Highest-Paide Health-Law Lobbyise*
Bloomberg News. November 29,2011.
s-ll-6-million-made-him*highest-paid-health-law-lobbyist.html 77 judy Pasternak 2010, ibid. 78 Dianne Farsetta 2007. ibid; The Center for Media and Democracy's Source Watch. "Clean and Safe Energy Coalition."
July 29,2009.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title-Clean and Safe gy Coalition 79 Brian Tumulty 2011, ibid. 80 Nuclear Energy Institute.
"Nuclear Energy Industry Welcomes Legislation to Continue Momentum.
Towards New Plant Construction."
August 7, 2007. http:/lwww.nei.org/newsandevents/News-Releases/
nuclearenergyindustrywelcomes 81 Bob Hennelly.
"Bloomberg Backs Indian Point Nuclear Plant." WNYC. March !8, 2011. ht!p://www.
wnyc.org/articles/its-free-country/2011/mar/18/bloomberg-backs-indian*point-nuclear-plant/;
The Journal News Editorial Board. "Bigger fish to fry regarding Indian Point." The Journal News. March 20, 20 II. http:l/www.lohud.com/article/20!!
0320/0PINION/1 an-Point 82 Congressman Peter King. "Energy."
http://peteking.house.gov/energy.shtml 83 http*//artide!:
economictime!:.indiatirnes.com/2011-12-06/news/30481633 1
mentary-compensation*india-s-nuclear-liability-law-csc 84 Congressman John McHugh. "McHugh Applauds Relicensing of FitzPatrick Nuclear Energy Plan." September 9, 2008.
patrick*nuclear-energy-plant-nudear-power-provides-significant*benefits-to-region-country#.
USZip8US vA . 85 Nuclear Energy Institute.
"Bipartisan Agreement on Reactor Safety."
November 2010. http://www.nei.
org/filefolder/insight Nov 2010.pdf
- Maury Thompson.
"Owens and Gibson to Collaborate on clear Discussion:'
The Post Star. February 07,2011.
http://f.!OStstar.com/blogs/all oolitics is ens-and-gibson-to-collaborate-on*nudear-discussion/article 402904e4-e033-5d7e-afl7-felbf8740fbd.
html 86 Project VoteSmart.
"Michael McMahon's Issue Positions:
Political Courage Test., 2010. http://votesmart.
UT)JcSVzM 19 87 Congress.gov.
"Legislation Sponsored or Co-Sponsored by Michael E. McMahon."
http://beta.congress gov/member/michael-mcmahon/1941
?pageSize=25&Subject of Legislation=Energy 88 Congressman Scott Murphy. "Congressman Murphy Helps Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Promote Nuclear Power." April28, 2010.
phy-helps-introduce-bipartisan-lecislation-to-prornote-nuclear-powertt USa03cUS vA 89 Elise Foley. "Obama Administration, Senators Stand Behind Nuclear Power Amid Japan Meltdown Scare." The Huffington Post. March 13,2011.
htt.p://www.huffingtonpost.com/201 ar-reactor n 835057.html 90 Jeffrey Kluger. "The Eco Vote: A field guide to would-be presidents."
Time Magazine.
November 2, 2007. htll':llwww.time.com/time/2007/indudes(eco vote.pdf; Phil Campbell.
"A Clinton-Giuliani Nuclear Showdown?"
Time Magazine.
March 27,2007.
http://www.time c!e/0 8599 !6Q363S.OO.htm!
91 Tory Newmyer.
"Inside the Mind of a Nuclear Flip-Flapper."
CNN Money. March 22,201!.
htll':llmoney.
cnn.com/2011/03/21/news/companiesfnudear lobby.fortune/index htm 92 MidHudsonRadio "Hayworth.
Maloney spar over environmental issues at public forum." October 10, 2012. http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/2012/0ctober/10/Hayworth Maloney-I00ctl2.html 93 Richard L. Hall and Alan V. Deardotf
... Lobbying as a Legislative American Political Science Review. 100.1:69-84.
February 2006. http:/lwww.policy:hu/muntean/SG SS 2.pdf 94 Center for Responsive Politics.
"McCannell
, Chris: Revolving Door Profile."
http://www.opensecrets.or&l revo!Vinc/rey summarv-php?id-70185 95 Quinn Gillespie
& Associates.
"QGA Team." 2009. http://www.zoominfo com/CachedPa,e/?ar-chive id-O&page id=-1425755456&paze uri llwww.guinngillesoie.comlnewslgga sif:hts/2008/2008
!0 30 php&paee last e=McCannell 96 Center for Responsive Politics.
"Lobbying:
Quinn, Gillespie
& Associates."
htt;p://www.opensecrets org/ loblzy/firmsum.php?id-D000023257&vear=2007 97 Burson Marsteller.
"Industry Specialties:
Energy:*
2012. http://www.burson-marsteller.com/Practic-es And Specialties/Industry Specialties/Pages/Energy.aspx
- 98 The Center for Media and Democracy's Source Watch.
http:llwww.sourcewatch.org/
index.php/Burson-Marsteller 99 Laura Miller 2002, ibid. 100 Burson Marsteller.
"PRWeek Names Burson-Marsteller Large Agency of the Year at 2003 PRWeek Awards Ceremony in NYC." 2003 http://www.burson-rnarsteller.com/newsroomllists/PressReleases/DispForm.
as.px?ID 406&nodename-Press%20Releases%20Archive 101 Whois.Net Domain Name Search for www.safesecurevital.org.
http://whois.net/whois/safesecurevital.org 102 Capalino+Company Government
& Community Relations Strategists.
"Success Stories: son-Marsteller."
http://www.capalino.com/success-stories/burson-marsteller; Entergy.
"Entergy Provides Free Radio Airtime to Nonprofits."
time-to-nonprofits/;
103 Giuliani Partners.
"Giuliani Partners Retained by Entergy Nuclear Northeast:'
- April30, 2003. http://www.
giulianioartners.com/press entem 043003.aSj>x 104 Susan Smallheer.
"Giuliani:
Praise, warning for responders."
Rutland Herald. August 20, 2004. h.m;al www.rutlandherald.comlal'pslpbcs.dll/artide?AID-/20040820/NEWS/40820036511003; Clarion Ledger. "Rudy Giuliani Speaks at Governor's Energy Summit."
October 4, 2012. htm://www.clarionledger.com/
videonetwork/1878737959001/Rudy-Giuliani-speak.s-at-Governor-s-Energy-Summit 105 Thomas Kaplan. "Giuliani Ads to Promote Safety of Indian Point:' The New York Times. October 5, 2011. bttp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/05/ruuliani-to-promote-indian-points-safety!;
Entergy.
"Public Outreach:
See the Campaign."
case.html 106 Entergy.
"Let's Stay Positive With Positive Energy."
httj?://www.safesecurevital.com/community ning/your-positive-energy.html 107 Entergy.
"Hear Our Positive Energy."
http://www.safesecurevital.com/uploads/IndianPointPositiveEner-108 Entergy.
"Let's Stay Positive With Positive Energy."
http:/lwww.safesecurevital.com/community ning/your-positive-energy.html 109 For example, the American Beverage Association spent $11.8 million in just the first half of20IO on an advertising campaign against Governor Paterson's proposed soda tax. II 0 Entergy.
"Entergy Awards $250,000 in Funder to Local Responders:
Company has Awarded $I.25 Million Since Program's Inception."
Ill Entergy.
"Community Grant Recipients."
http://www.safesecurevital.com/community ents.html 112 United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"Transcript of Public Meeting to Discuss Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed License Renewal of Indian Point Nuclear Generating Untt Numbers2 and 3:' htll':ll!'badu!'ws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0914/ML091410354.pdf 113 Robert D. Bullard.
"Environmental Justice in the 21st Century."
ry;htm 114 The Network Journal.
"Entergy gives grant to 100 Black Men of New York Chapter."
httj?://www.tnj.com/
115 African-American Observer.
"African Day parade, festival planned."
September 1I, 2012. http://www.
safesecurevital.com/up1oads/Entergy Supports Sixth Annual African Day Parade icanObserver.pdf; NAACP New York State Conference.
"The 75th Anniversary
& Diamond Jubilee Celebration."
20 ll btm://www.nysnaacp.orgOubilee.html 116 Brian Palmer 2011, ibid. 117 SHARE. "Members of the Brooklyn Clergy Tour the Indian Point Energy Center."
July 2012. hnp;LL shareny.org/new/cms/uploads/July-31-20 12-Brook1vn-Clergy-Tours-IPEC-FINAL. pdf. 118 Safe Healthy Affordable Reliable Energy. "Mission."
http://shareny.org/about.php?Mission-3 119 Craig Wilson. "Pursue all forms of clean energy:'
Albany Times-Union.
June 30, 2011. htto://www.
timesunion.com/opinion/article/Pursue-all-forms-of-clean-energy-1446707.php 120 IRS filings for Safe Healthy Affordable Energy in New York inc. available via GuideStar at http://www.
guidestar.orglorganizations/30-0453721/safe-healthy-affordabJe-energy-new-york.aspx 121 SHARE. "SHARE Participates During Black, Puerto-Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus."
February 2013. bttp://sbareny.org/new/cms/uploads/February 2013-SHARE-Hispanic-&-Asian-Legislative-Caucus pdf 122 h!:!l'-/lsharenrm:glnewlcms/uploads!!uly-3 I* 20 I Tours-IPEC-FINAL. pdf* http'// shareny org/new/cms/uploads/IPEC-Tour-Earth-Day-Press-Release-2012-FINAL. pdf 123 Brian Palmer 2011, ibid. 124 http*/lwwwprwatch orctprwissues/200501/nukel htm\ 125 County Executive Andy Spano. "Spano Responds to Entergy Campaign to Scare Minority Communities."
October 24, 2003; Roger Witherspoon and Keith Eddings.
"Entergy Issues Warning to Minority munities."
The Journal News. October 24, 2003. -Both the Spano press release and Journal News article are reproduced at: http:l/tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/Know Nukes/messai'e/3385--
the originals are no longer available online. 126 Jerry Kremer. A Costly War on Indian Point." Albany Times-Union.
February 27,2013.
htll'*llwww.
timesunion.com/opinion/artide/A-costly-war-on-Indian-Point -4314617
.php. 127 Diane Farsetta 2007, ibid 128 IRS filings for New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance available via Guidestar at htll':llwww.
129 John J, Basile. "Indian Point a Safe Operation."
Albany Times-Union.
May 6, 2011.
sunion.com/opjnion/articlellndian-Point-plant-a-safe-operation-136830 l.php 130 Diane Farsetta 2007, ibid; *Patrick Moore. "41 Years of Earth Day." NY AREA Print Advertisement.
hnn1£ www.area-alliance.org/documentsl4.26.ll.CapitolMoore.pdf 131 NY AREA. "Press Releases."
http://area-alliance.o$'index.php/media-center/press-releases/;
132 Internal Revenue Service.
"Other Section 501 (c) Organizations.
htt;p:llwwwirs govlpublications/p557/
ch04.html#en US 201 I publinki0002003Q9 133 Images from NY AREA. Mass AREA, and Vermont Energy Partnership Winter 2009 Newsletters, avail* able on each group's website.
134 Common Cause/NY 2011, ibid ; Sharon Beder. "Public Relations' Role in Manufacturing Artificial Grassroots Coalitions."
Public Relations Quarterly 43.2 Summer 1998: 21-23. http:/lwww.uow.edu.
au/-sharonb/PR html; Sasha Chavkin.
"astroturf":
Five lobby groups whose names don't tell the whole story." The New York Wor1d. June 20, 2012.
by-groups-names-stor:y!*
135 Thomas P. Lyon, and John W. Maxwell.
July 2002.
shoplpaperslmaxwell 042 103.pdf 136 TW. Farnam. "Lobbying Down but Advocacy Up:* The Washington Post. February
- 6. 2013. htUrl/www.
washingtogpost.comlpolitics/lobbying-down-but-advocacy-up/20 I 3/02/06/b7d97984-7094-1 1 e2-8b8d.
e0b59a1b8e2a story.html?wprss-rss politics I 37 Paul Blumenthal.
"Dark Money" In 2012 Election Tops $400 million, I 0 candidates outspent by groups with undisclosed donors:'
The Huffi.ngton Post. November 2, 2012. http:llwww:huffingtonpost.
com/20121!1102/dark-money-2012-election-400-million n 2065689.htm!
138 Nicholas Confessore.
"S.E.C. is Asked to Require Disclosure of donations;*
The New York Times April23.
2013.
tions.html?pagewanted-a11&
r=O 139 G. Jeffrey MacDonald.
"Shareholders as firms: What are your politics?"The Christian Science Monitor.
April 8. 2013. http:l/www.csmonitor.com/Business/new-economy/20 What-are-vour-politics 140 Entergy Corporation.
"Corporate Governance."
http:l/www.enterncom/investor rate governance.aspx 141 Glenn Bain. "State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli forces computer chip maker Qualcomm to reveal $3 million in previously hidden political contributions and other donations."
The New York Daily News. February 23,2013.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/qualcomm-forced-reveal-3-million-hid*
den-donations-article-1.127I468 142 New York Joint Commission on Public Ethics. "Source of Funding:*
2012. http:J/www.jcooe.ny.gov/
source funding/
143 Common Cause/NY.
"Lifting the Veil: A Report Analyzing Grassroots Lobbying in New York State;* June 2011. http://www.commoncause.org/ny/liftingtheveil fJ FSC _,.,.., MIX *Paper from r*aponalble aourc.a FSC" C1 02680 e PRINTED WITH TM NewYork CAusE 74 Trinity Place, Suite 901
- New York, NY 10006
- www.commoncause.org/ny