Rebuilding trust at Yankee
Editorial, Brattleboro Reformer 2/6/10
http://www.reformer.com/reformereditorials/ci_14345880
Does Entergy get it?
Does Entergy really think that reassigning Vermont Yankee site vice president Jay Thayer to another position in the company is enough to restore people's trust? Even Department of Public Service Commissioner David O'Brien on Wednesday called the move "tokenism."
Does Entergy really think that Vermonters are buying the remarks of its CEO, J. Wayne Leonard, that "Vermont has a lot more to lose than we do" if the Vernon reactor closes? Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power don't seem to think so, since both are actively seeking alternatives to VY's power, secure in the knowledge they can get cheaper electricity.
Does Entergy really think Vernon residents aren't concerned that the ongoing tritium leak at Vermont Yankee might end up eventually in their well water? These formerly staunch supporters of VY are now worried that if their wells are contaminated, their homes will be nearly impossible to sell.
To us, it appears that Entergy is more concerned with public relations than it is with actually doing something about the problems at the plant.
What Entergy doesn't get is that many Vermonters see its moves this week -- a shake-up of top management at Vermont Yankee -- for what it is: lipstick on a nuclear pig.
If Entergy wants to restore people's trust in its operations of the plant, how about a full and complete accounting of the extent of the underground piping? According to Arnie Gundersen, a nuclear engineer who serves on the Vermont Yankee Public Oversight Panel, Entergy has been consistently evasive about this topic, which is a big reason why he and his wife, Maggie Gundersen, founder of the paralegal services and expert witness research firm Fairewinds Associates of Burlington, came up with the estimate in 2008 that it would cost at least $1 billion to decommission Vermont Yankee.
If Entergy wants to restore people's trust, how about making an ironclad commitment to putting more money into the decommissioning fund, so that Vermonters won't get stuck with the costs of cleaning up VY after it closes? The fund now stands at about $400 million, and it is not enough, even under the most optimistic scenario. The tritium leaks of the past month will almost certainly drive up the cost of decommissioning.
If Entergy wants to restore people's trust, how about making an similar ironclad commitment to abide by whatever requirements that state and federal regulators make regarding the safe operation of the plant? Up until O'Brien's remarks on Wednesday, and Gov. James Douglas' call for a "time out" last week, O'Brien and Douglas had nary a discouraging word to say about VY.
But we are now past the point where cheery ad campaigns and personnel reshuffles will make a difference. And, in talking with our local lawmakers, the Vermont Legislature is past that point too.
Despite the governor's request for a delay in a decision on relicensing Vermont Yankee, we think a vote is going to come sooner, rather than later, and that the events of the last few weeks at the plant will weigh heavily on the minds of lawmakers.
If Entergy really wants to earn the trust of Vermonters, they'll have to do a lot more.
http://www.reformer.com/reformereditorials/ci_14345880
Does Entergy get it?
Does Entergy really think that reassigning Vermont Yankee site vice president Jay Thayer to another position in the company is enough to restore people's trust? Even Department of Public Service Commissioner David O'Brien on Wednesday called the move "tokenism."
Does Entergy really think that Vermonters are buying the remarks of its CEO, J. Wayne Leonard, that "Vermont has a lot more to lose than we do" if the Vernon reactor closes? Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power don't seem to think so, since both are actively seeking alternatives to VY's power, secure in the knowledge they can get cheaper electricity.
Does Entergy really think Vernon residents aren't concerned that the ongoing tritium leak at Vermont Yankee might end up eventually in their well water? These formerly staunch supporters of VY are now worried that if their wells are contaminated, their homes will be nearly impossible to sell.
To us, it appears that Entergy is more concerned with public relations than it is with actually doing something about the problems at the plant.
What Entergy doesn't get is that many Vermonters see its moves this week -- a shake-up of top management at Vermont Yankee -- for what it is: lipstick on a nuclear pig.
If Entergy wants to restore people's trust in its operations of the plant, how about a full and complete accounting of the extent of the underground piping? According to Arnie Gundersen, a nuclear engineer who serves on the Vermont Yankee Public Oversight Panel, Entergy has been consistently evasive about this topic, which is a big reason why he and his wife, Maggie Gundersen, founder of the paralegal services and expert witness research firm Fairewinds Associates of Burlington, came up with the estimate in 2008 that it would cost at least $1 billion to decommission Vermont Yankee.
If Entergy wants to restore people's trust, how about making an ironclad commitment to putting more money into the decommissioning fund, so that Vermonters won't get stuck with the costs of cleaning up VY after it closes? The fund now stands at about $400 million, and it is not enough, even under the most optimistic scenario. The tritium leaks of the past month will almost certainly drive up the cost of decommissioning.
If Entergy wants to restore people's trust, how about making an similar ironclad commitment to abide by whatever requirements that state and federal regulators make regarding the safe operation of the plant? Up until O'Brien's remarks on Wednesday, and Gov. James Douglas' call for a "time out" last week, O'Brien and Douglas had nary a discouraging word to say about VY.
But we are now past the point where cheery ad campaigns and personnel reshuffles will make a difference. And, in talking with our local lawmakers, the Vermont Legislature is past that point too.
Despite the governor's request for a delay in a decision on relicensing Vermont Yankee, we think a vote is going to come sooner, rather than later, and that the events of the last few weeks at the plant will weigh heavily on the minds of lawmakers.
If Entergy really wants to earn the trust of Vermonters, they'll have to do a lot more.