Rutland Herald: Senate: Clear ‘no’ on Yankee

By Daniel Barlow

The Vermont Senate overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to close the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in 2012, although the legislative and legal battle over the troubled facility could be far from over.

Senators voted 26-4 against a bill that called for the troubled Vernon reactor to operate until the year 2032, sending a clear signal to Entergy, the owner of the plant, that it has lost the faith and trust of lawmakers.

That final vote saw several Republicans, normally the political base for Vermont Yankee, and all but one Democrats vote against allowing the 38-year-old plant to operate for another 20 years. It is believed to be the first time a state legislative body voted against the continued operation of a nuclear power plant.

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But Sen. Doug Racine, of Chittenden, also a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, said the vote sends a “powerful message” to Entergy, the utilities and the rest of the state that Vermont is moving away from nuclear power in support of green energy.

“This is the beginning of a better energy future for the state of Vermont,” Racine said. “And it will be one based on conservation, efficiency and renewable energy.”

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