PUTNEY — For those of us who have been working for a safe and timely closure of Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant as scheduled in 2012, this has been an extraordinary year.
Much has changed in the past 12 months. Reflecting on this period, it is impossible not to feel proud and grateful to the people of Vermont for an intelligence and willingness to think for themselves in developing opinions regarding the plant.
Some of us who live in the towns surrounding VY began the year with a “crazy,” yet amazing, winter walk from Brattleboro to Montpelier. We met with people in communities all along the way to share our message: that we are scared to be living in the shadow of a deteriorating nuclear power plant, and that there are energy alternatives to Vermont Yankee.
In the 11 days we were away from our homes and jobs, everywhere we were met by citizens who were wonderfully supportive, providing us with places to sleep and eat lunch each day, with one woman in Barre even bringing fresh cookies to the sidewalk for us!
During the walk, we were informed about the massive leak of radioactive tritium into the ground and water surrounding the nuclear plant. As the story of the leak unfolded, it became clear that Entergy, its owner, had lied to the state, under oath, about the existence of the pipes from which the leaks had come. In some places, corporate lies are a daily occurrence, but in our state, this was a really big deal.
People all around the state expressed their disgust with an out-of-state corporation that could not tell the truth to Vermonters.
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In a serious February snowstorm, the State Senate, led by Peter Shumlin, its president pro tem and now governor-elect, took the courageous and unprecedented step of voting 26-4 to oppose continued operation of Vermont Yankee beyond the termination of its 40-year license in 2012.
During the entire day of this debate and vote, pages in the Statehouse carried hundreds of messages of support to legislators from all parts of the state. This vote was international news, bringing the message that Vermonters will not passively accept the rubber-stamp extension of the life of an accident-plagued nuclear plant that is well past its prime.
All this year, Entergy has been spending lavishly on a major public relations offensive - outspending our grassroots groups many times over. We have seen slick television advertising, full-page newspaper spreads, new media entries, lawn signs, lobbyists, and more. It is a real testimony to Vermonters' sophistication and willingness to read between the lines that Entergy's spinning of the truth and attempts to look as if they have popular support have largely fallen flat in Vermont.
In an election year in which Republicans swept the country, with an implicit message that Americans don't care about the environment, Vermonters elected a new governor who has a serious commitment to creating a green economy in this state. We have a real chance to be at the forefront of using genuine renewable power and strengthening the efficiency of our power usage.
One of the major issues in our gubernatorial campaign was replacing Vermont Yankee, and doing so was supported by a majority of our citizens.
As we look ahead to the many difficult issues of decommissioning Vermont Yankee, we have faith that the residents of our state will continue to hold the owners accountable.
Vermont Yankee was given 40 years in Vermont. That time is nearly up. When it is, Entergy has pledged to return the site to a “green field.”
We will be here to make sure that pledge is kept.