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Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen


4.23.2007

 

Entergy efficiency tax

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin rolled out his new proposed funding source to pay for the efficiency utility that is supposed to help make your house more energy efficient. It is - drumroll please - tax on Entergy Corp.'s increased Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant profits.

It would start with $2 million this year, increase to $5 million in 2008 and then by $2 million each year after that through 2012, when Vermont Yankee's Vermont license expires.

The premise is that Vermont Yankee has increased revenues more than anticipated since it was granted permission last year to operate at a higher capacity. Also, that storing nuclear waste in dry casks on site along the Connecticut River is proving to be a longer-term engagement than once thought, so Shumlin argues, Vermont Yankee should pay Vermont for that.

I expect any minute now to hear the reasons from Entergy why this is a bad idea.

The reality is that there are no funding sources for anything that won't make somebody yelp. Shumlin, whose Windham County district plays host to the nuclear power plant, will win support for this from many of his constituents who would just as soon tax Vermont Yankee right off the map.

This fight in the Statehouse is likely to come down to what is the best way to promote energy-efficiency in homes and businesses. Many Democrats want this Efficiency Vermont-style utility, and if they create that, they need a way to pay for it. Four Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committe question whether that's the right method at all.

Shumlin's proposal is also bound to set off another debate about nuclear power , a debate that has taken a new turn amid all the talk about global warming. Nuclear power plant companies such as Entergy are pitching their product as green because they don't contribute greenhouse gases.

- Terri Hallenbeck

Comments:
Seeing that Susan Bartlett and a good number of Democratic Senators (as well as the Vermont Democratic Party) take 'donations' from Entergy ... I don't see Shumy's tax idea going anywhere.

(btw, I'm a Democrat ... but I hate how my party has sold out to Entergy ...)
 
This is a terrific idea!!

Efficiency is a great idea, and Entergy makes scads of $$!!
 
Entergy will just raise their rates that much more, when their contract comes up for renewal in two years.

This tax won't come out of Entergy's pocket.
 
VY is shutting down in 2012
 
So you think!
 
Shumlin for Governor.
 
Because he's for impeachment .... no wait, he's against impeachment ... I mean, um ... he's FOR impeachment ... I no ... which is it today?
 
In the absence of any leadership at all from the Executive, Shummy has the field to himself. this is the Jack Welch (GE) school of management....just keep swinging or wheeling and dealing every day and you may miss often but you'll eventually hit a home run...maybe the nuke card is it.
 
Or just be shamelessly self promoting!
 
This is just another Shumlin scam. He and the Democratic party are in Entery's pocket. There is a behind the scenes deal that will allow Shumlin to make a lot of noise about VT Yankee (to keep his constituents happy), but at the end of the day, VT Yankee WILL BE relicensed and they won't be doing a whole lot to make Entery's life uncomfortable.
 
How politically astute to not just tax the people directly rather than via their electric bills.
 
Let's tax Peter Shumlin's bizarre antics.

We should tax his every flip and his every flop.

Tax his loopy metaphors.

Tax his dodging and tax his weaving.

We'd have enough money fund education, healthcare and roads by the end of the session ...
 
Atleast Shumlin is moving. Douglas just stands there like a freaking post.
 
Moving - you mean chasing his own tail in a circle?
 
Don't confuse Shummys "moving" with action. He is all show and hot air. Never been so disappointed in our legislature in my 60 years in Vermont as I am now with this radical crowd in charge.
 
Here, Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
All show and well all show!
 
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