(Host) Lawyers made their opening arguments Monday morning as the trial got under way in Entergy Vermont Yankee’s lawsuit against the state.
Entergy wants to get rid of the state’s authority to determine whether the nuclear power plant can continue to operate beyond next March.
Entergy lawyer Kathleen Sullivan says the state wants to take a role in the safety regulation of the plant.
But she says federal law reserves that authority only for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The NRC has authorized a 20-year extension of Yankee’s license, which is due to expire in March.
Assistant Attorney General Scot Kline disputes Entergy’s arguments. He says Entergy agreed when it bought the plant in 2002 to accept the state’s authority.
But Kline says Entergy now wants to back out of its commitment.