Despite Court Ruling, Vermont Could Order Vermont Yankee to Shut Down

Some good news in the wake of the depressing and undemocratic court decision agreeing with plant owner Entergy that the Vermont legislature does not have jurisdiction over the continued operation of the plant past the March 12 expiration of its original 40 year license (a license renewed by the federal government for an additional 20 years, even though this plant has an abysmal safety record and its owners have been caught in serious distortions of the truth).

According to this article by the Conservation Law Foundation, the state of Vermont is still empowered to determine whether Vermont Yankee is operating in the public good and should continue to operate. It’s just that the decision-making authority is no longer the legislature, but the state Public Service Board.

Let’s hope they maintain the will of the people, refuse to renew the certificate, and force the leaky old troublemaker to shut down. If you’re a Vermonter, telling the Board members what you think wouldn’t be a bad idea, either—by email at the link in this sentence, or by phone at 802-828-2358.