(Host) The House today overcame objections from the business community and approved a bill targeted at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.
The bill says the plant owners have to guarantee that there’s enough money available to dismantle the plant after it’s shut down.
VPR’s John Dillon has more.
(Dillon) The debate on the bill was long and heated. At one point Speaker Gaye Symington warned lawmakers to keep their comments civil.
Opponents said that the legislation was unnecessary and could lead to higher electric rates.
Backers said the legislation is needed to make sure Vermonters aren’t stuck with the cost of decommissioning the plant.
Montpelier Democrat Warren Kitzmiller chairs the House Commerce Committee. He said when other nuclear plants have been decommissioned in recent years, the cost has always been higher than estimated.
Kitzmiller said there’s about $425 million in the fund now, but that may not be enough.
(Kitzmiller) "At the moment, we anticipate that the closing cost for Vermont Yankee – if it were to close now – the estimated closing cost is approximately $800 million. So we’re short by a few hundred million dollars now."
(Dillon) The bill was prompted by a corporate re-structuring under way at the Entergy Corporation, the owners of the plant. Entergy wants to set up a new limited liability company that would own nuclear plants in the Northeast.
(Kitzmiller) And the bill before us, while it is very serious to all of us, is stunningly simple in its language. It’s a one paragraph bill.
(Dillon) But this simple bill triggered a three hour debate.
Many opposed to the legislation reiterated the concerns of business groups that are lobbying hard against the bill. The businesses say the bill could raise rates, because Yankee’s owners would pass on the additional cost.
Democrat James Fitzgerald represents St. Albans City.
(Fitzgerald) "Have you asked yourself why are there here on this issue? What are they doing here? What are they here on this bill. Members, they represent jobs in this state, many of them. If they’re interested in this bill, shouldn’t we be?"
(Dillon) But East Montpelier Democrat Tony Klein said the legislation protects Vermonters.
(Klein) "I think it’s prudent. I think it’s wise, and I beg you to make sure that we do everything possible that this decommissioning fund is there, it’s guaranteed, because nobody knows – nobody knows – rightly or wrongly, who the ultimate responsibility will fall to."
(Dillon) The bill has already passed the Senate. But it faces strong opposition from the Douglas Administration.
For VPR news, I’m John Dillon in Montpelier.