Owner: No buyer for Vermont Yankee nuclear plant

[cali]

MONTPELIER, Vt.

The owner of the troubled Vermont Yankee nuclear plant can't find a buyer for it.

Entergy Corp. said Wednesday there were interested parties but the plant's uncertain prospects for a new license from Vermont officials prevented a sale. Spokesman Larry Smith blames political uncertainty in Vermont. He says the plant's strong operating performance was attractive to buyers.

Vermont is the only state with a law giving it a say in relicensing. Last year the state Senate voted against allowing the plant to operate past 2012.

There have been recent leaks of radioactive substances into soil and groundwater surrounding the aging plant.

Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin wants the plant shut down. He says it's no surprise Entergy couldn't find a buyer.

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http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9M9S8GO0.htm

[exboyfil]

1. Keep an eye on this

The decommissioning will be very expensive so obviously the utility will want to get it off of its books if it can. Could they get some sort of limited liability corporation to buy it that has no assets? Presto - an orphan nuke plant needing to be decommissioned.

[glinda]

2. "Political uncertainty?". VT looks to being sane and Blue to me.

[cali]

3. the political uncertainty isn't within vermont

it's between vermont on one side and the feds and Entergy on the other.

[glinda]

12. Ahhhh.

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. Put it up on Ebay.

Seriously, what were to happen if the company that owned it now went out of business? Who's going to maintain the plant for decades until it's safe to abandon?

[Wilms]

5. We are.

And it'll be a lot more than decades.

:grr:

[Shagbark Hickory]

13. Oh but of course! Silly me.

[rhett o rick]

16. The hidden cost of nuclear power. What happens when the plant is no longer viable? nm

[jpak]

6. The pronukular unreccing crew is busy today

yup

[MadHound]

7. Good, time to decommission this dangerous dinosaur,

Along with the other nuke plants in this country.

[cali]

8. I'm not sure this is good news.

[MadHound]

9. Better than it getting relicensed and continuing operating.

Vermont Yankee is simply another Fukushima waiting to happen. Old and falling apart, it is better off being wound down and done away with rather than continuing to operate.

I understand that this could be another financial headache for the residents of Vermont, but the state actually seems to be able to hold corporations in check. Force the owners of the plant to pay for decommissioning.

[cali]

10. sadly, it's already been relicensed- last week by the NRC

what we're looking at is a showdown between the feds and entergy v vermont.

[MadHound]

11. Ah crap, hadn't heard that.

Vermont Yankee is one of the most potentially dangerous plants out there. Hopefully Vermont can prevail in shutting it down.

[Donnachaidh]

14. *uncertainty* -- buzz word for give us anything we want

:eyes:

[LiberalEsto]

15. Try Japan

They just lost a few reactors and might want replacements.

:hide: