Greenpeace airship flies over Vernon: ‘Shut Down Vermont Yankee’

Greenpeace today flew an airship with a banner reading ‘Shut Down Vermont Yankee’ over what it calls "the risky and dangerous nuclear reactor" to send a message to Entergy, the plant’s corporate owners and potential buyers. Following Entergy’s recent announcement to sell the 38-year old reactor, as well as an unplanned shutdown after another leak of radioactive water, Greenpeace said its action drew attention to the problems facing the reactor and warned potential buyers of the risks of purchasing the plant.
‘Entergy needs to stop trying to squeeze more profit out of Vermont Yankee or dump the mess they’ve created onto someone else, and instead begin preparations to permanently shut down this old reactor,’ said Jim Riccio, Nuclear Policy Analyst for Greenpeace.
Earlier this week, Greenpeace sent a letter to Entergy CEO J Wayne Leonard requesting that the company stop trying to re-license and sell the reactor, and instead retire Vermont Yankee as scheduled in 2012. Copies of the letter were also sent to the CEOs of companies that have been identified in the press as potential buyers, including Exelon, Constellation, and NextEra Energy.
In February 2010, then-Senator Peter Shumlin led the Vermont Senate to vote 26 ‘ 4 to deny the continued operation of Vermont Yankee. In the most recent election, Vermonters elected Peter Shumlin governor and the following day Entergy announced that it is considering selling the 38-year-old plant. On November 7, the reactor was shut down after a new leak of radioactive water was discovered. The new leak follows earlier discoveries of radioactive releases into the groundwater and soil near the reactor.
‘Vermonters no longer trust that Vermont Yankee can operate safely, without accident or radioactive releases to the groundwater,’ said Mark Floegel of Greenpeace, ‘Entergy needs to stop putting their profits ahead of the safety of New Englanders, and shut down Vermont Yankee as scheduled.’
Source: Greenpeace. 11.16.2010. The Greenpeace airship A.E. Bates flies near the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station in Vernon, Vermont, with a banner reading "Shut Down Vermont Yankee." Copyright photo by CJ Gunther taken November 14, 2010.