As the Nuclear Regulatory Commission examines whether to license the Indian Point Power Plant in Westchester County, the agency says it is also examining whether to allow plants older than 60 years to continue operating.

Indian Point's reactors are nearing 40 years in operation.Bill Dean, a regional administrator for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, told the Poughkeepsie Journal that his agency "is currently looking at research that might be needed to determine whether there could be extensions even beyond" the current 60-year limit for licenses. It could be several years before the NRC decides whether that is even feasible. 

Dean spoke at a news briefing on the 2011 performance of Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3 in Buchanan, about 35 miles from Manhattan. The plants again performed "within the expected regulatory bounds" and no special oversight is required, the NRC found.

Gov. Cuomo has expressed interest in closing Indian Point, but nuclear plant licensing is largely the domain of the federal government.