Vermont Yankee: Why Prolong a Troubled History?
As a resident of Northfield, just a few miles downstream from the Entergy Vermont nuclear power reactor, I have followed with interest the efforts to shut it down by March 2012, at the end of its 40-year license.
The issues concern reliability of the plant and its owner, the future for the current Vermont Yankee workers when it shuts down, replacement of the power, the plant’s safety record, ensuring the safety of highly radioactive waste for thousands of years, and the fact that Entergy has put no money into the decommissioning fund as required since it bought Vermont Yankee in 2002. What I have learned through research is this:
Vermont Yankee has a well-documented history of breakdowns and accidents due to age, the 20 percent increase in its power output, and cost-cutting measures. In August, 2007, The Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 stated there are “serious issues of public safety” and that “actions are required to mitigate the degrading conditions” that threaten the margin of safety.
We are not the first consumers to face replacing nuclear-generated electricity. Rancho Seco, operated by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, in 1989 successfully replaced the power from the 1,000-megawatt reactor (Vermont Yankee is a 620-megawatt reactor) with a combination of small hydro, gas, solar, wind, and efficiency and conservation. The utility retained as many skilled workers as possible during decommissioning, at least a 10-year process.
There is no good answer for how to safely and reliably store high-level radioactive waste for thousands of years. Why create more?
In February, 2010, the Vermont Senate voted 26 to 4 against allowing the state Public Service Board to re-certify the reactor past 2012, citing misstatements by plant officials in testimony re the tritium leaks, a 2007 cooling tower collapse and other concerns.
Why should a private corporation be allowed to break the laws of the state of Vermont, particularly given that Entergy had previously said it would abide by what the Legislature decided?
Entergy has since sued Vermont for passing legislation preventing it from operating past March. In mid-September, a three-day trial took place in U.S. District Court in Brattleboro. It may take up to two months for Judge Murtha’s decision. But likely that will not be the end of the matter.
Cate Woolner
Northfield
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Republicans Don’t Fight for Jobs
It is the year 2000. After eight years of Democratic rule there is a budget surplus, 5 percent unemployment, the nation at peace. But from the Southern heartland comes a swagger and a smirk from one whose only thought is for workers (how to bilk them). Pretending to be concerned for common people, he fights a never-ending battle for decreased regulations and corporate profits.
Forward to 2008: there are huge budget deficits, a great financial crisis, unpaid-for wars, trillion- dollar bailouts for the mess made by those inanely called “job creators.” In 2010, after Republicans campaigning on jobs reclaimed the House, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, asked what their number one focus would be, stated: “Making Obama a one-term president.”
What happened to jobs? How many job bills have Republicans introduced? How many times have they fought for tax cuts for the rich? So who is it they are serving?
Suddenly the deficit is all that matters. It didn’t matter when they were in power, but now we can’t spend any money that might create jobs.
Who actually ran up the deficit? Statistics released by the United States Treasury show that Reagan ran up the debt 189 percent, the first Bush 55 percent, Clinton 37 percent, baby Bush 115 percent and Obama 16 percent.
The lies and hypocrisies of the Republican right are legion. Their loyalties are very clearly tied to the plutocrats who have paid for them.
Will those who have helped put these folks in power against their own interests awaken to this reality? One can hope.
Jaffrey Harp
Shutesbury
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Another Look at 9/11
It’s high time we had an investigation of 9/11! Every citizen of this country should go online and watch the latest of the 9/11 Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth video at 9/11Experts SpeakOut.org (“A Deeper Inquiry,” September 29, 2011).
This is not a bunch of fringe lunatics. This is not folks who think UFOs brought the towers down or that the planes were merely holograms. These are credentialed architects, engineers, physicists, demolitions experts, calmly explaining how the fall of the three buildings simply defies the laws of physics and how the National Institute of Standards and Technology report was full of inaccuracies and distortions all to fit a prescribed narrative, and not the truth. They feel we need an impartial, scientific investigation.
Also interesting are the videos commercial pilots and aeronautics engineers made showing how the maneuvers were not only impossible for amateur terrorist pilots but for experienced commercial pilots as well. People need to get educated about 9/11 and stop believing the fairy tale spooned out to us by our media.
9/11 has been the excuse to pay for outrageously expensive wars, commit genocide on helpless civilians, take away our civil rights, you name it. People don’t believe our government could do such a thing. Hey, if the Nazis could pull the wool over the eyes of the Germans, why are we so special that we couldn’t be manipulated to do their bidding?
Charlotte Burns
via Internet
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Animals for Entertainment?
I went to the Big E. Elephants, camels and ponies were giving rides. There were a kinkajou and a lemur, each in small shadow boxes with barely enough room to turn around. A baby kangaroo was in a small cage, too. I imagine the constant noise is stressful for animals. None of the animals seemed to be having a good time. I doubt they get used to it, and it made me feel sad. Maybe using animals for our entertainment isn’t a good idea.
Scott Plantier
Pittsfield
