BRATTLEBORO — Regulatory delays, while frustrating to developers and other interested parties, sometimes signify that a process is working correctly.
Such is likely the case with the regulatory timeline for the approval of the sale of Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to NorthStar.
The project to expedite decommissioning of Vermont Yankee included some timelines for NorthStar and Vermont Yankee owner Entergy to complete the transfer by the end of 2018. This timeline is dependent on approvals by both state and federal regulators.
On July 6, the Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC) accepted the recommendation of Entergy and Northstar that the PUC make its determination after the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Entergy's and NorthStar's actions demonstrate their ongoing commitment to the project's long-term success and their goal to safely and promptly restore the Vermont Yankee site for future industrial use.
Additionally, the proposed sale has been enthusiastically accepted by nearly every state agency, advocacy group, municipality, and economic-development organization involved in the PUC review. The project is well-funded and has extensive financial assurances to cover unexpected costs.
In the end, getting it right and approving the project are what matters most, even if it takes a little extra time.