The Vermont Public Service Board says it will set its own pace in deciding whether the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant gets a state permit to operate for another 20 years.
A federal judge in January issued an order blocking an effort by Vermont lawmakers to close the plant, and sent the issue back to the Public Service Board. Plant owner Entergy first said the board had all the information it needed to go ahead and issue a new permit.
Then, this week, Entergy asked the federal judge to make changes to his January decision and asked for the board to wait. Entergy is concerned that the judge’s original ruling allowing it to keep operating didn’t cover issues regarding future storage of radioactive waste on site, and Entergy is concerned that the P-S-B may be looking at that.
The board says its review is continuing.