State's nuclear oversight could face new challenge

Times Argus ^ | August 11, 2008 | Dave Gram

[Pontiac]

When Vermont lawmakers debate whether the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant should be allowed to extend its license beyond 2012, they might want to avoid the S-word.

Snip

The worst-case scenario would be for the Legislature to pass a resolution saying "because of our safety concerns at VY," it was declining to approve the license extension. "Of course they're not going to do this," Hofmann said of lawmakers. "But that would be the worst of all worlds. That kind of courts a pre-emption claim."

Snip

Michael Marriotte, executive director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, a group based near Washington that is critical of nuclear power, said he, too, believes the state would be on safe ground turning down the license extension over issues of reliability or economics.

He noted several states, including California, have passed laws — California's was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court — saying they'll allow no more reactors until the problem of what to do with nuclear waste is solved.

But he called the notion that lawmakers should remain mum on safety issues "pretty Orwellian. They have the right to question the safety of the plant and not fear that the federal government is going to make them keep it because they fear it's unsafe."

[Pontiac]

How can responsible state legislatures suggest that a power plant that has safely, efficiently and cheaply generated power for forty years should be prematurely shut down. Vermont Yankee generates power far more cheaply than any replacement power ever could.

Capital cost of Vermont Yankee was paid off many years ago so electric produced by the plant is very cheap.

The Liberals of Vermont are crying Global Warming and they want to shut down a power producer that produces ZERO pounds of green house gases per Kilowatt.

[Paleo Conservative]

The Liberals of Vermont are crying Global Warming and they want to shut down a power producer that produces ZERO pounds of green house gases per Kilowatt.

Let them freeze in the dark.

[Iron Munro]

Just tell them the radiation is good for pedophiles and other homosexuals and they will renew the license faster than a truckload of q....

Well, lets just say they will renew it fast.

[TChris]

Two words: Breeder Reactors.

[Pontiac]

Two words: Breeder Reactors.

Good idea.

Maybe president Obama will start work on them after he cancels construction of the Yucca Mountain spent fuel burial sight.