nuclear-news

Vermont rallies to keep its right to veto nuclear power plants

“We are demanding justice for an agreement made 40 years ago,” said Sanders, who drew the loudest cheers. He said the state had the right to determine a “safe energy future for our kids and grandkids.”

Organizers estimated the crowd at between 1,500 and 2,000 people.

Shumlin, Sanders rally anti-nuclear protesters By Susan Smallheer, Rutland Herald,  April 15, 2012, BRATTLEBORO — More than 1,200 anti-nuclear protesters flocked to the Brattleboro Common on Saturday and listened to three of the state’s top politicians — Gov. Peter Shumlin, U.S. Sen. Bernard Sanders and Attorney General William Sorrell — take turns criticizing Entergy Nuclear and its Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.

On a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon, people brought “Defend
Democracy” T-shirts and anti-nuclear buttons, listened to Afro-beat
music and watched street performer “Will Nukem” before the state’s
political top guns took over.

All three said Vermont was in a battle for state’s rights, and that
Vermont should be able to determine that it didn’t want a nuclear
power plant within its borders, safety issues aside.

And they said it was clear that the “power of corporations and their
money” was prevailing over what they said was grassroots democracy
that wanted the 40-year-old plant shut down and dismantled.

Shumlin, a lifelong Putney resident who represented Windham County
before being elected governor two years ago, said Entergy Nuclear had
broken promise after promise to the citizens of the state, state
government and the Vermont Legislature since it bought Vermont Yankee
10 years ago.

“Thank you for standing up to Entergy Lousiana,” Shumlin said. “We
will retire Vermont Yankee on schedule with your help.

‘‘Entergy has gone back on its word time and time again, and its
history in Vermont is littered with broken promises,’’ said Shumlin to
loud applause. He said the state would continue to push to shut down
Vermont Yankee.

“If you do business in Vermont, you keep your word,” he said…….

“We are demanding justice for an agreement made 40 years ago,” said Sanders, who drew the loudest cheers. He said the state had the right to determine a “safe energy future for our kids and grandkids.”

Regulators from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have never said no
to the nuclear plants wanting to keep operating, Sanders said.
“Something is wrong,” he said…..
Saturday’s rally was the second anti-nuclear demonstration in
Brattleboro in three weeks, but unlike a rally and march on Entergy’s
corporate offices, no one was arrested.
Organizers from the Safe and Green Energy Alliance, a new coalition of
about a dozen anti-nuclear groups in the region, said it was important
to show that people are unhappy with Entergy’s operation of Yankee and
its continued operation of the plant. Organizers estimated the crowd
at between 1,500 and 2,000 people.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120415/THISJUSTIN/704159925/1003/NEWS02

April 16, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | opposition to nuclear, politics, USA