VY workers clash with renewable energy advocates at Statehouse
1:18 p.m.
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By DANIEL BARLOW Vermont Press Bureau - Published: February 23, 2010
MONTPELIER – The political debate over the future of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant heated up Tuesday as nuclear workers clashed verbally with renewable energy supporters at the Statehouse.
About 50 Vermont Yankee workers showed up at the Statehouse Tuesday to urge lawmakers to delay a Senate vote scheduled for Wednesday on the future of the troubled nuclear reactor in Vernon.
But sparks flew when several of the Entergy employees crashed a press conference held by the organization Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, which opposes the relicensing of the plant.
Vermont Yankee workers began yelling at questions and comments at the speakers, resulting in a heated exchange on the benefits and fallbacks of nuclear power and renewable sources such as wind and solar – all before a crowd of cameras and reporters.
“I hate how this debate has become wind versus nuclear,” said Vedranal Wren, an operator at Vermont Yankee who lives in Brattleboro. “I want both.”
Don Mayer, the owner of Small Dog Electronics, a member of VBSR, fought back against accusations from Vermont Yankee workers that solar power was not renewable. While it takes a lot to produce the panels, the equipment doesn't “have a half-life of a thousand years,” he told the frustrated workers.
The Vermont Senate is scheduled to vote on the bill around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
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