Nuclear is not clean or affordable
In Vermont, Governor Scott, Lt. Governor Rodgers, Republican Legislative Leadership, and The Commissioner of the Department of Public Service are all on record promoting new nuclear power for Vermont. Phil Scott continues to push for legislation labeling nuclear as clean and seeking to remove the requirement that the General Assembly must approve any new nuclear power plant.
The Trump Administration has been surprisingly clear about its energy policy for the nation. “Drill Baby Drill”, regarding fossil fuels. “Beautiful Clean Coal”, signaling a revival for coal burning power plants. As for nuclear, Trump is calling for the reduction of “red tape” like environmental and safety testing for proposed Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, all the while attacking renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. Of course, Trump’s energy policy labels climate change as a hoax.
Recently it was reported that the State of Vermont has spent $530 million ratepayer dollars, including accrued interest, to date, cleaning up the Vermont Yankee Nuclear site in Vernon. It has also been reported that, to date, the site has filled 1,462 rail cars with low-level radioactive waste, most of which, have been shipped to a dump in Andrews County, Texas. Down in Andrews many of the locals are not happy about being dumped on by Vermont. What remains at the site in Vernon are 58 giant casks of high-level radioactive waste sitting on the banks of the Connecticut River with nowhere to go. Nuclear is not affordable or clean.
Going backwards is not a good policy path for Vermont. We must demand better from our leaders.