April 2, 2006

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Senate Wants Review of Yankee Relicensing
By Kristi Ceccarosi
Brattleboro Reformer, VT
March 17, 2006

MONTPELIER -- It's only been a few months since owners of Vermont Yankee announced they want to extend the plant's license 20 years, but already it's clear Entergy Nuclear is in for a tough fight with the local citizenry.

The Mississippi-based owners might also be in for a tough fight with the Legislature over a license extension.

A bill that would let lawmakers review the relicensing cleared the Senate floor this week, and its sponsors have high hopes that it will get through the House before the end of this legislative session.

What happens next is up to House Speaker Gaye Symington, D-Jericho. She'll decide which House committee takes up the bill, and that will determine how quickly, if it all, it comes up for a vote before representatives.

Sen. Rod Gander, D-Windham, one of the bill's sponsors, says he's counting on Senate Pro Tempore Peter Welch to work closely with Symington, to guide the proposal through the House.

As far as Entergy is concerned, the Legislature has no business weighing in on its license extension. Company officials have made it clear they're opposed to the bill.

Entergy says the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is the only body that has to OK a license renewal. The NRC is currently reviewing Entergy's application.

The state's Public Service Board is also expected to review the plant's bid for a license extension.

Vermont Yankee's current license expires in 2012. That's when many residents, and quite a few legislators, would like the plant to close.

Legislators -- particularly Windham County delegates -- say they want to participate because the plant's continued operation has far-reaching implications for the state's economy, energy future, safety and welfare.

"This is not an up or down vote on Vermont Yankee now," said Gander. "The most important thing is that this Legislature do its best to give a future Legislature the authority to weigh in on this."

Last year the Legislature passed a controversial bill dealing with Vermont Yankee's spent nuclear waste. It allowed Entergy to proceed with plans to build steel and concrete waste containers on plant grounds, but it placed an annual tariff on the containers.

It also required Entergy to come back in 2012 and get permission for additional containers, if plant operation was extended past 2012.

Entergy officials are saying that future trip to the Legislature is plenty. Coming back for a separate review on license renewal "seems excessive," plant spokesman Brian Cosgrove told the Associated Press this week.

The federal Atomic Energy Act gives the Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversight of nuclear power plant issues, including license renewal.

Neil Sheehan, a spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, has said if state lawmakers vote on license renewal in a way that somehow counters what the commission has to say about it, the commission's decision would trump any state decision.

Kristi Ceccarossi can be reached at kceccarossi@reformer.com or (802) 254-2311, ext. 160.