As a retired Vermont Yankee engineer, I have continued to follow the activities related to the decommissioning of the plant.
I read with great interest the recent announcement that state officials, Entergy, and NorthStar have finally arrived at an agreement that has the potential to allow for a prompt and safe decommissioning of the plant.
I found it particularly interesting that most of the intervenors believe that an amicable solution has been achieved.
I think it is very important for the town of Vernon and Windham County that the decommissioning of the plant take place as soon as possible.
While I believe that it is important that the site be made available for other use in a timely manner, it is also important to recognize that the Vermont Yankee site has as its best potential use as an industrial or commercial facility.
Given that the decommissioning work should be aimed to prepare the land for that type of use, I strongly believe that NorthStar can perform the decommissioning in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
I sincerely hope that as this process continues to evolve, all parties involved will set aside prior antagonism and work toward the common goal of making this land available for future use.
In the interests of all concerned, I hope that all parties will continue to pressure the federal government to fulfill its obligation to take possession of and remove the spent fuel currently stored on the Vernon site.