tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7216601820757301541.post-8706288212020013972008-05-08T15:17:00.001-04:002008-05-08T15:23:47.154-04:00<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.vpirg.org/news/uploaded_images/bfp.gif" border="0" /><br /><br />May 8, 2008<br /><br />MONTPELIER — Gov. Jim Douglas vetoed a bill that could have required Vermont Yankee to boost its commitment to the nuclear power plant’s decommissioning fund, saying he was protecting Vermont’s electric costs.<br /><br />Those who supported the bill, however, said the measure would have protected Vermonters against long-term costs associated with the plant’s eventual closure.<br /><br />Legislators who supported the bill wanted the plant’s owner to be held to a higher shutdown standard than is included in the 2002 Public Service Board agreement with Entergy. That agreement allows for waste to be contained at the plant for up to 60 years, during which the decommissioning fund would be expected to grow with interest. Symington called that time frame “ludicrous.”<br /><br />“That was clearly a bad deal,” said Paul Burns, executive director of <span style="color:#006600;">Vermont Public Interest Research Group</span>. “What’s wrong with improving the situation if it’s going to be sold?”<br /><br /><a href="http://www.vpirg.org/news/08/2008-05-08-Douglas-vetoes-yankee-bill-PBquote-BFP.doc">Read full article</a>Nataliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484697380959257552noreply@blogger.com