Dealing With Vermont

31.  In the case of a premature shutdown at a time when the decommissioning fund is not
fully funded, Vermont Yankee could be placed in SAFESTOR to allow the decommissioning 
trust fund to increase in value until sufficient funds exist.   Such an approach would not expose
the State to any unnecessary risk, as SAFESTOR is a safe alternative to immediate
decommissioning. 

That is from the contract Vermont's Public Service Board signed with Entergy when the company purchased the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant not quite seven years ago.

The Vermont House has voted to advance a bill that would require the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant's owners to pay more than $350 million into a fund for dismantling the plant when it shuts down.

That is from today's Brattleboro Reformer.

If this bill becomes law – it needs to pass the senate and the governor must sign it, or the legislature must override his veto – then the Vermont Yankee plant will be shut down in 2012, at the latest.  This will be bad for Vermont, though supporters of the bill will argue that renewables will take up the slack, providing both the necessary jobs and the essential electricity.

Maybe. 

But what about the reputation of Vermont as a place to do business? 

Comments

[Brattleboro_conservative]

What? It's not as if Vermont has a business-friendly reputation already. Not to worry about Vermont Yankee though, Brattleboro will continue to thrive on good thoughts, moonbeams and wind and solar power just as always.
NOT!!!

[Brattleboro_conservative]

Looks as if that order for a LP fired 10kw generator will come in handy after all. If nothing else my neighbors will be jealous.

[Ed G. Mann]

The money will be there. After Geithner finishes goofing with the currency and Obama crashes the economy, hyperinflation will fill the decommissioning fund in about an hour. Oh, you say the cost will go up? Nah, it's just a race to the bottom of a socialist's dream.

You won't be worrying about it. You'll be spending all of your time figuring out how many wheelbarrows of hundred dollar bills you need for a loaf of bread to care about Vermont Yankee cleanup.

If there is a Vernon-if there is a Vermont-if there is bread-if there is a you!

[Rama Schneider]

"In the case of a premature shutdown at a time when the decommissioning fund is not
fully funded"

I looked up the definition of "premature" and found it hadn't changed recently. Still means unexpectedly soon.

I was looking for text that said that clause could be used as an excuse to not fund the decommissioning pot; but unfortunately that isn't there.

I'll bet it isn't anywhere.

Look ... I know it sucks when we require businesses to live up to their signed agreements and social expectations ... well no, it doesn't really.

[GreggB]

Shut Yankee down. The ugly old hippies, rotting houses, and crumbling infrastructure of VT look better in the dark.

[Glenn Eno]

If the bill doesn't pass then the Yankee haters will move up the ladder until they can get a trump. This may happen if they approach and compensate the Acorn Crime Family which currently resides along the banks of the Potomac.