A couple of weeks ago, we ran a story about the efforts of a small town to bring a nuclear plant to its area back in the seventies. it didn’t happen back then, for various reasons, and Easton, N.Y. remains now as it was then, a small farming town. so imagine my surprise:

About 50 people, including a member of [Rep. Chris Gibson's (D-N.Y.)] staff, attended last week’s [town] board meeting at which the board voted to create the [nuclear] study committee. Gibson, the freshman Republican congressman from the 20th District, has made constructing a nuclear power plant in the district one of his priorities.

That district, of course, includes Easton. most of the story is bare speculation, but I found it interesting that the echo of the past has made an impact on the present:

[Farmer George] Allen was a high school senior when the [original nuclear] plant was proposed, and remembers seeing a model of the facility at his school. Years later, after he had bought the utility land, his three kids used to swim in the old reactor pit, which is 60 feet deep and full of "crystal-clear water."

And Allen seems an ideal constituent:

"But I do think it is smart for the town to do some study of this issue," said Allen, who attended last week’s Town Board meeting to speak in favor of the study committee. "there should be good information, rather than hearsay or how someone just feels about it."

Bravo, George Allen.

I have no idea whether a nuclear plant in Easton is a long shot  – no one has expressed interest in building one as far as I know – and I suspect the residual excitement over the first plant gives Easton a sort of extra enthusiasm. I find this – shall we say? – imprint on the town’s DNA uniquely intriguing. plus, if it succeeds, Eastern new York would do nothing but benefit. I hope Easton gets its nuclear plant.

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