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This week, the debate over the future of the Indian Point nuclear power station resumes with a public meeting on the reactors' impact on Hudson River wildlife.

State regulators say Indian Point is killing too many fish by releasing warm water into the river. They've refused to give Indian Point's owner, the Entergy Corporation, a permit it needs to continue operating the plant, unless Entergy builds water cooling towers.

But in print and radio ads, Entergy is trying to build popular opposition to the idea.

One spot airing on commercial radio stations tells listeners each tower "will be as wide as Yankee Stadium and 17-stories high, destroying our scenic shoreline," and touts a cheaper solution to the problem involving wedgewire screens, metal screens that would be placed underwater, which Entergy says would be effective at keeping out fish.

The voice in the ad is Patrick Moore, a former leader of Greenpeace, who has become a vocal supporter of nuclear energy since leaving the environmental group.

Another environmental organization, Riverkeeper, says Moore and Entergy are simply trying to scare the public.

"This is a company that makes very large profits. They could easily afford to build the tower, so we think they're using the court of public opinion to exaggerate the facts," says Phillip Musegaas, a Riverkeeper attorney.

On Tuesday evening, in the town of Cortlandt Manor, citizens will have the chance to give their views on the issue when the state Department of Environmental Protection holds a public forum.

In April, the agency ruled that the current water-intake system must be replaced with a more modern cooling system. But, Entergy appealed the decision, and an administrative law judge is now considering the appeal.

Listen to Entergy's Indian Point radio ad: