Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Guy Page, executive director of Vermont Energy Partnership, which is funded in part by Entergy, the Louisiana-based corporation that owns Vermont Yankee.
There is no question that Vermont Yankee offers Vermonters a good financial “deal”: plenty of low-cost power, more than 1,000 jobs and over $15 million annually in government revenue. On the playing field of providing jobs and empowering government to help our needy neighbors, Vermont Yankee scores way ahead of other power generators. It’s no contest.
But for most of us Vermonters, the “deal” is always about more than just money, even if we are its main recipients. If this distinguishes us from some other states, that’s okay. It’s one of the many reasons we continue to choose to live here.
Vermonters care about quality of life and the environment. We are good neighbors, especially when the going gets tough. We expect people doing business here to share this commitment. It is the essence of who we are as a people.
So when we think about Vermont Yankee, we appreciate the hundreds of jobs, millions in revenue, and Vermont’s status as the nation’s second lowest carbon emitter for power generation.….and we know they all would be lost if Vermont Yankee is replaced with fossil fuel-based, New England grid power. On the other hand, we are concerned about last winter’s tritium leak, and misleading misstatements made by senior company officials. Hanging in the balance of this spirited debate at kitchen tables across our state are the jobs of hundreds of Vermonters, the quality of life of thousands of others, our economy, and perhaps even our environment.
In such times we value independent analysis and demand independent oversight. In the case of Vermont Yankee, not one but two sets of qualified, independent experts have conducted comprehensive reviews. One is from the federal government, the other from the State of Vermont.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is charged with ensuring that U.S. commercial nuclear power plants are operated safely. This June 22, the NRC reported that during 2009 Vermont Yankee “operated the plant safely and in a manner that preserved public health and safety and protected the environment.” The state’s Public Oversight Panel praised the plant’s nonstop 24/7 operation for over a year and a half, saying that “operating 531 days without shutting down was a considerable reliability achievement,” well-earned praise for training, skill and plain hard work of more than 600 employees. The panel cited several concerns about plant management and culture, but concluded that the plant can be operated reliably provided these concerns are met.
The NRC also said it was not misled about the underground pipes or tritium leaks. The state POP, despite having other criticisms, did not fault Vermont Yankee with intent to mislead regarding the leaks or pipes. We should remember that Vermont Yankee announced the underground pipes problem to state officials, and then worked night and day to fix it. Voluntary transparency in a volatile political environment displays trustworthiness. Actions do speak louder than words. In short – skilled state and federal investigators have studied Vermont Yankee for safety, reliability, and trustworthiness, and have concluded that although the plant’s challenges must be addressed, it can go forward.
On matters closest to Vermonters’ hearts – environmental safety, economic recovery, state government equipped to help the needy, and trustworthiness – the experts agree that Vermont Yankee has earned a right to be considered for another 20 years of operation.
