The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission will today be holding two public sessions to discuss the criteria by which it awarded the Vermont Yankee power plant its highest rating green. In its Annual Assessment Letter dated March 4, 2009, the NRC said that overall, Vermont Yankee operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and fully met all cornerstone objectives.
Brad Ferland, President of the Vermont Energy Partnership, which is comprised of over 90 business, labor, and community leaders, today issued the following statement regarding the NRC annual safety performance assessment report. The Partnership believes Vermont Yankee s continued operation is important for ensuring the state has a reliable and clean electricity supply so that the state s economy can recover and grow.
Once again Vermont Yankee has faced intense scientific and engineering scrutiny and once again it has obtained high marks, following thousands of hours of inspections and review by the NRC in 2008. Congratulations to the hundreds of hard working employees of Vermont Yankee for the hard work they do in making safety priority number one.
The NRC s determination is consistent with the positive findings of the state s Public Oversight Panel announced earlier this year, with the 2007 NRC assessment, and with countless other inspections. The Vermont Energy Partnership is confident that the skilled professionals of Vermont Yankee will continue to operate the plant in a way that inspires confidence in the plant s safety and reliability.
The Vermont Energy Partnership is a diverse group of more than 90 business, labor, and community organizations and professionals committed to finding clean, affordable and reliable electricity solutions to ensure Vermont stays a great place to live and work. Its mission is to educate policy makers, the media, businesses, and the general public about why electricity is imperative for prosperity, and about the optimal solutions to preserve and expand our electricity network. Entergy, owner of Vermont Yankee, is a member of the Vermont Energy Partnership.
Source: Vermont Energy Partnership. Brattleboro, VT/ April 16, 2009
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