Douglas vetoes Yankee decomissioning bill
2:32 p.m.
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By DANIEL BARLOW Vermont Press Bureau - Published: May 22, 2009
MONTPELIER – Gov. James Douglas vetoed a bill Friday that would have required the owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to make financial guarantees that it has the money to shut down and clean up the site.
Douglas, who vetoed a similar bill passed by the Vermont Legislature last year, wrote in his four-page veto message that if this proposal was enacted, the state would likely be sued for breach of contract and electrical rates for residents would rise.
“Because this legislation threatens ratepayers, increases long-term electric rates, risks potential job losses, and creates unnecessary liability for the state – while failing to adopt a viable, workable solution – I cannot support this legislation and must return it without my signature,” Douglas wrote.
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