can a small state tell an $11.2 billion corporation to pack up its nuclear plant and go home?

[cali]

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Trial to start in Vt.'s bid to close nuclear plant
By DAVE GRAM Associated Press
Posted: 09/11/2011 09:28:38 AM PDT
Updated: 09/11/2011 09:30:39 AM PDT

BRATTLEBORO, Vt.—A federal judge is about to be asked to take a first crack at this question: In early 21st-century America, can a small state tell an $11.2 billion corporation to pack up its nuclear plant and go home?

On Monday morning, in a stately federal courtroom upstairs from a U.S. Post Office—in a town still recovering from the floods two weeks ago of Hurricane Irene's remnants—a high-powered Entergy Corp. legal team will square off against the Vermont attorney general's office with that question in the balance.

Judge J. Garvan Murtha will hear opening arguments in what is expected to be a three-day trial. At issue is whether the Entergy-owned Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, just a few miles south of the courtroom in neighboring Vernon, should be allowed to operate past next March 21, when its initial 40-year license expires.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has said yes. Just 10 days after an earthquake and tsunami triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima plant—reactors of the same design and about the same age as Vermont Yankee—the NRC said Vermont's lone nuclear station had passed its review and was fit for a 20-year license extension, lasting until 2032.

<snip>

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18872794

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. What happens if/when there is not enough electrical power available?

I support moving away from nuclear power in timely manner, but the cut over needs to be thought out and executed intelligently. If power planners for the region were planning on Yankee and now it is unexpectedly gone for political reasons, then Vermonters should be willing to get freeze in the dark for some time to come.

[cali]

2. this is a dangerously obsolete facility with a record of many accidents

and near constant leaks. Furthermore, this has not been done without some foresight. I hate to fucking disappoint you but Vermonters will not be freezing in the dark- much as YOU clearly wish for that.

too fucking bad you won't be able to gloat over freezing Vermonters.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. The your OP you cited an article that said Yankee ready for certification

That presumes it meets current safety standards. You might want to verify your source.

Taking Yankee offline in this manner scarcely constitutes foresight. Regional planners will have to make rapid arrangements for power. As long as Vermont pays the freight for those additional costs, taking Yankee offline is fine by me, but you and I both know they won't. Vermont itself may be alright, at least until it needs to buy power out of state.

[cali]

12. Regional planners have made plans for power. Furthermore,

I trust the NRC not at all.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. I agree with you about the NRC

But not so sure about power planners. You can not take away that much capacity without some impacts. Those who claim there will not be any don't understand the problems.

[Horse with no Name]

3. Go Vermont Go!

Lead us out of the dark!

Hoping for success here.:thumbsup:

[ensho]

8. kick - me too

wishing them success

[MineralMan]

4. I suspect the courts will say no. Interstate commerce and all that.

I remember working in opposition to the Diablo Canyon plant in California before it was built. It seemed as though the process was pre-determined and that no amount of protest or objection would alter the course of events. And so it was. A nuclear plant built essentially right on an earthquake fault. Once the NRC approved the design, it became virtually impossible to stop it. That's the unfortunate truth of the matter. So, I doubt the federal courts are going to rule in Vermont's favor, unfortunately.

[cali]

5. Well, I'm familiar with Murtha and I think you're flat wrong.

You may be right further down the line on appeal.

[AndyTiedye]

6. I Sure Hope So

We don't need any more of these:

[Demeter]

7. If Iceland Can Do It, So Can Vermont

and so can everybody. All it takes is stubbornness and the willingness to make waves.

[Davis_X_Machina]

9. Go over to Wiscassett...

...and look at the place where Maine Yankee used to be.

Sure a small state can do it.

[cali]

11. While it's great that Maine Yankee was shut down, it's an entirely different situation

The state didn't shut it down. Essentially, the NRC did.

[Davis_X_Machina]

18. VT Yankee's going to get to that point soon...

...if it isn't there already. The clock is ticking.

[hunter]

13. Maybe they could outlaw AC electricity in Vermont.

Make it a Direct Current only state. That might work.

Seriously, the old plant needs to be replaced with a new power plant of some sort, or Vermont's electrical power consumption needs to be reduced in proportion.

Options for new power plants are almost as bad as an old nuclear power plant. Fracked Natural Gas? Coal? Waste incinerators/wood burners? Unreliable and very expensive wind and solar? Dams? There isn't anything attractive about any of those options.

Reducing power use is a very viable option. If everyone could cut their power use to the point where they could afford wind and solar systems, we wouldn't need wind and solar systems as we could then easily shut down the most offensive and dangerous power plants.

[shireen]

15. the more i read about VT, the more i like that state

if i could live anywhere in the country and take my much needed support system with me, i'd move there.

[madrchsod]

16. never pass the supreme court.

thom hartman talks about this subject on his radio show.

[LWolf]

17. I hope so. nt