With photos “nuke forum close” “nuke forum wide” OBSERVER Photos by M.J. Stafford Panelists associated with the nuclear industry sit at a forum moderated by Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency Chairman Mark Geise, at right.

FREDONIA — Many of Northern Chautauqua County’s elected leaders are clearly intrigued by the possibility of a nuclear power plant in Dunkirk. One of the politicians convened a panel of nuclear industry players and advocates for a presentation Tuesday at SUNY Fredonia.

State Sen. George Borrello invited local officials and the media to the Williams Center event, which featured five men who spoke about different facets of nuclear power.

The officials observed in attendance by the OBSERVER included Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel, county Industrial Development Agency Chairman Mark Geise, the city of Dunkirk’s Mayor Kate Wdowiasz and Councilman Frank Torain, and Pomfret Town Supervisor Dan Pacos.

The session was titled “Dunkirk Local Leaders Nuclear 101 Forum.” Geise started it off with some comments, then invited Borrello, Wendel and Wdowiasz to make a few of theirs.

Geise said the forum was intended to provide elected officials and other leaders “a foundational understanding of advanced nuclear and its potential role in the future of Dunkirk and Chautauqua County.”

A wide-angle view of a “Dunkirk Local Leaders Nuclear 101 Forum” held Tuesday at SUNY Fredonia.

Borrello said he “actually first had the conversation about next-generation nuclear power (in Chautauqua County) a couple years ago when the governor hosted an energy summit in Syracuse.”

He said, “We need more base load power. That’s the bottom line. Certainly nuclear power is one of those options.

Wdowiasz said, “This is exciting. This is the future of our community, we hope.”

She noted a similar “Nuclear 101” event held by the city of Dunkirk last year. “We all have to agree that something needs to be done to protect New York’s grid,” she said.

The mayor said Tuesday’s session was intended to “offer a better understanding of what the future holds for us.”

Wdowiasz expressed appreciation that representatives from Genover were in attendance. The company is acquiring NRG’s mothballed power plant property at Point Gratiot, which local leaders have eyed as a possible site for a nuclear plant.

“Nuclear isn’t new. Nuclear has been around for a long time,” Wendel said. “We have to get past the fear (of it.)” More power is needed to help “revive” Western New York and nuclear could provide it, he said.

The five nuclear industry speakers were Keith Schue of Nuclear New York, a nuclear power advocacy organization; Andrew Whitaker of the University at Buffalo, who spoke at the previous Dunkirk forum; Greg Lancette of the United Association of plumbers and pipe fitters (who commented on job opportunities); Hunter Dare of Oppenheimer Energy; and Carl Perez of Exodys Energy.