VERNON — Why is Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin using the catastrophic flood as one more very public opportunity to condemn our southern Vermont community?
Now more than ever, we should appreciate the forethought that went into designing, building and maintaining the Vermont Yankee nuclear power station in Vernon. It was no accident that VY remained safe and operational during this disaster of historic proportions.
Those who have in the past been worried about the way fuel is stored at the plant and its proximity to the Connecticut River have been shown that what is in place is capable of withstanding Mother Nature's fury in exactly the way it was designed to perform.
This success has not all been on the part of Vermont Yankee, however. Those who planned, built, and maintain the Connecticut River watershed flood control dams deserve as much credit for controlling flood-stage waters. It has been a great team effort in the face of adversity.
The new VELCO switchyard built in Vernon also worked beautifully during and after the storm.
And I'd like to offer a huge thank you to all those in our community who could have stayed home with loved ones or evacuated the area, but instead stayed on the job and served the people of Vermont.
A word to the governor: I am disappointed in your lack of leadership. This is an important time in Vermont, where everyone should be focused on pulling together, with neighbors helping neighbors and rebuilding our communities.
You could have used the limelight to focus everyone's attention on that cause, but you chose instead to further your political vendetta instead against Vermont Yankee.