BRATTLEBORO — Entergy Nuclear is the equivalent of a schoolyard bully with deep pockets.
Unfortunately for us, the Louisiana-based corporation that operates the Vermont Yankee nuclear power facility chooses to utilize its money and resources to incite fear through manipulative advertising, risky business propositions, and economic threats.
Entergy has a history of dishonest and illegal practices. From New England to New Orleans, the energy conglomerate unabashedly pursues profit with little regard for the economic and environmental damage it wreaks.
The company's pattern resembles that of British Petroleum (BP) and its handling of the Gulf oil catastrophe. In both instances, slick, expensive ad campaigns trump honestly addressing the rampant, systemic mismanagement.
In 2009 Vermont's attorney general requested that Entergy cease an ad campaign falsely stating that Vermont Yankee operates with “zero emissions.” Of course, this claim is false, as Vermont Yankee regularly releases radiation into the environment as well as small amounts of carbon dioxide.
Despite the request, supporters and employees continue to use the term “emission free” in editorial pieces and letters to the editor.
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In 2008, after a decade-long court battle, New Orleans ratepayers were awarded $34 million in electric bill refunds stemming from Entergy's overcharging practices. This led the attorney general of Mississippi to bring suit against Entergy for similar rate manipulation.
Recently, Entergy announced it is being investigated in four states by the U.S. Department of Justice for its “competitive practices” involving power procurement, dispatch, and transmission systems, as well as its utility unit policies. We await more details.
Up until April of this year, Entergy was aggressively lobbying Vermont and New York regulators for the ability to spin its operations off into a risky, debt-ridden limited liability corporation named Enexus.
Citizen outrage and the global economic collapse caused in great part by morally inept corporate executives highlighted the irresponsible nature of Entergy's proposal. Entergy CEO J. Wayne Leonard went so far as to suggest it could find other ways to limit its liability if Enexus was not approved. Vermont and New York regulators inevitably rejected the Enexus proposal.
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In 2009 and 2010, we witnessed blatant acts of dishonesty as Entergy representatives provided inaccurate information to Vermont regulators and legislators about the existence of underground piping at Vermont Yankee.
This was followed by the discovery of a massive tritium leak from the very same “nonexistent” piping, polluting the soil and groundwater. The full extent of this leak (as well as others) is unknown, as we continue to learn about additional groundwater contamination and potential drinking water contamination.
An Oct. 3 Associated Press article, “Vermont Nuke Plant Still Lobbying for License,” reported that Entergy spent over $120,000 on paid advertising for one television station during the first nine months of 2010 - one station. Between regular newspaper ads and an aggressive TV and Internet marketing campaign, Entergy seems confident it can pummel citizens and decisionmakers long enough in order to get its way.
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Entergy Corp. has bullied our communities long enough. It is time for Entergy to stop its deceptive paid ad campaign and cease all efforts to rewrite history.
In February of this year, the democratically elected Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of closing Vermont Yankee as scheduled in March of 2012. We are now less than 18 months away from that date.
Entergy has an enormous responsibility ahead that includes the closure and clean-up of the reactor site, storage of high-level radioactive waste, pollution mitigation, and the transition of its workforce, including retention, just compensation, and training.
Entergy should immediately begin collaboration with state, federal, and local officials to ensure that thorough transition and clean-up processes are promptly developed and implemented.
It is about time for Entergy to end the aggression - and focus on its responsibilities.