vt.Buzz ~ a political blog

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

8.24.2007

Tower trouble

Just curious what people think will be the political fallout from the collapse of a portion of a cooling tower structure at the Vermont Yankee plant.

Anti-nukers had grave doubts about the wisdom of letting plant owner Entergy Nuclear go ahead with a 20 percent upgrade of the plant's power output, saying the Vernon plant was too old to handle the upgrade . Now they've got some I-told-you-so proof to back up those concerns, thanks to those incredible photos taken by who-knows-who that began appearing on the Internet Wednesday night.

So now we've got the New England Coalition and VPIRG were calling for the plant's immediate shutdown. We've got the state Public Service Department investigating the incident. Plus, the state's Congressional delegation has co-written a letter to the NRC demanding it investigate the matter and Gov. Jim Douglas says he's asked the Public Safety Department to look into the collapse as well.

That's four inquiries by my count. This has got to be Entergy's worst nightmare, but like Vermont Yankee or not, the joint is our most major source of electrical energy in the state. A political hot potato for one and all?

You betcha.

-- Sam Hemingway

posted by vt.Buzz | 10:50 AM |

Comments:

Congrats to the folks at Greenmountaindaily.com who scooped the Freeps and everyone else on this.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:43 AM, August 24, 2007

Sam,

Instead of just posting pics and asking people what they think -- how about telling people what they are looking at? What is this part of the plant? Specifically what does it do? Why do people think it's dangerous? Why did the VY spokesperson try to down play this incident when it looks so big and dramatic?

You know, ask some questions that journalists should ask. Report on the answers.

Thanks.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:36 PM, August 24, 2007

Ask not what the Vermont press can do for you...

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 12:42 PM, August 24, 2007

I don't know about you, but my lights are still on, even with Yankee at a much lower capacity. I wonder, would the lights continue to stay on if they were at zero? I'll bet they would.

Green Mountain Boy

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:02 PM, August 24, 2007

The real question is who is the jerk who took these pictures and posted them on the Internet. That in itself is a serious security breach. The last thing we need is some stoned-out welfare case from Brattleboro working at a nuclear power plant and posting pictures of its operation on the Internet. Calling all terrorists - go to Greenmountainlosers.com to locate vulnerable targets.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:15 PM, August 24, 2007

yea ... it's the people who call attention to the safety problem that we should worry about ... not the people who created (and tried to hide) the problem to begin with.

That's flawless logic.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:02 PM, August 24, 2007

most major?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:06 PM, August 24, 2007

Oh, sure. The lights would stay on if Yankee were abruptly and completely shut down. Didn't you know that electricity is totally free and isn't generated by power plants? The whole VY thing is a big corporate conspiracy to enslave us all. I know because I read it on a blog on the Internet.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:00 PM, August 25, 2007

The state of Vermont needs to fund installation of solar in homes. It is too expensive for your average home owner to install but I be they would if they could afford it.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 9:39 AM, August 26, 2007

if it's too expensive for the average homeowner to install, how could the state of Vermont afford it if many homeowners wanted one. we don't have more money together than we do separately.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 1:27 PM, August 26, 2007

There are some tax credits available.

www.efficiencyvermont.com

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 8:19 PM, August 26, 2007

But not enough to make it reasonable. Look at what California does.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 6:52 AM, August 27, 2007

More should be done ... but remember there are state and FEDERAL tax credits available.

All together, they add up to significant savings for people who are interested in doing a little research.

www.efficiencyvermont.com

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 7:25 AM, August 27, 2007

Lets bring back OCCSA and all of the other welfare programs of the 70's and 80's to support those that don't already have a welfare job at efficiencyvermont! If the idiots that spend all day at the local bar rooms would spend some of their cigarette and beer money for insulation and weatherization what would efficiencyvermont do? Scudder Parket gets a job in private industry? Shudder!!!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 10:39 AM, August 27, 2007

Well Bubba, much more of our tax dollars go for subsidies to the oil companies.

Shouldn't do much harm to spend a little money on conservation.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:52 AM, August 27, 2007

So exactly how much does go to the oil companies and what is it that we are subsidizing?

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:11 PM, August 27, 2007

"It is too expensive for your average home owner to install but I be they would if they could afford it."

The initial cost is a real burden. The state and Federal tax credits do very little.

The federal tax credit is $2000. The state program has limited funds, is only for grid tied, and requires that you use a state approved installer. Its approximately $1.40/watt for above average earners and $3.40/watt for under average earners. Its also capped at the total amount, but I don't recall the number off hand. A solar panel from a VT seller will retail for about $6/watt. You will not get an installer to use a panel or equipment from a different vendor. So you will have a choice of either DIY with cheaper mail order products and no VT grant, or use the VT installer supplied products and labor and get the grant. If you are a half way intelligent person, you will be better off not taking the grant. A system that accomplishes the installtion goal will need to be 2-3kw. The 6 bucks per watt panel cost does not include all the other parts of the system such as mounts, inverter, wire, labor, batteries, charge controller(s), 120/240 converter, generator, etc. When all is said and done, you are easily over $10/watt and probably more like $15/watt. Cash layout for something usable in VT can easily be $30,000.

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 4:03 PM, August 27, 2007

This is exactly why people can't do it!

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 3:33 PM, August 28, 2007

here's your answer, Sam:

http://www.reformer.com/headlines/ci_6746681

# Posted by:

Anonymous | 11:46 AM, August 29, 2007