Decommissioning Vermont Yankee, safely and efficiently, is a very important issue for the entire region. It is crucial that all concerned and that industry and government cooperate to make this task happen as quickly as possible.
So it's hard to understand why the state of Vermont tries to impede the process at every step.
Entergy made a good-faith effort, one not required by regulations, by borrowing nearly $150 million to fund the transfer of nuclear fuel from the fuel pool to “dry” storage (in casks) without even dipping into the decommissioning fund.
Long-term storage of spent fuel is the responsibility of the federal government. However, despite years of having taken funds from ratepayers and companies, the government is not taking spent-fuel rods from any commercial plant.
Knowing that the federal government must eventually restore the funds, Entergy sought to borrow from the Decommissioning Fund for this long-term storage. The state of Vermont opposed; and when the federal government approved, Vermont begged the other New England states for support.
It makes me wonder what the state of Vermont's goals really are.
As Entergy briskly and prudently moves forward with decommissioning, I hope that, going forward, the state will not try to obstruct the decommissioning process at every regulatory opportunity, lengthening the time it takes to decommission Vermont Yankee.
Instead, I hope Vermont's government will do everything possible to speed the process along, creating the possibility of breathing new life in an important piece of riverside real estate.