Yankee is a drop in the bucket

And the PR continues.

Neither Jim DeVincentis’ letter nor the opinion of Howard Shaffer bears fruit on the reality of what the continued operation of Vermont Yankee means to Vermont.

Since March 6, 2012, 62 days the plant has operated at less than 100 percent capacity. “Main condenser vacuum/backpressure issues,” “reduced power for planned maintenance on a condenser waterbox,” “condenser tube leak,” “feed pump maintenance,” “reduced power for rod pattern adjustment,” “making repairs to the main turbine gland seal system,” “reduced power to replace motor on ‘A’ recirc pump mg set,” “waiting for rod pattern adjustment” and others.

This is anything but a dependable/constant supply of power.

One claims 1,000 jobs, the other claims 600. Both imply these are jobs for Vermonters. Neither is correct. Vermonters hold a small percentage of the jobs.

As to agreements by Entergy to make payments to a fund, all one has to do is look at their track record. Agreements mean nothing to Entergy. They back out of them on a regular basis. They are not making payments now they agreed to make.

Impact on the New England grid is a joke. The 640 megawatts Vermont Yankee produces when it is running at capacity is about 1 percent of the available power of the New England grid.

Shut down Vermont Yankee now and mandate Entergy pay the decommissioning and radioactive waste cleanup cost.

Alfred Blakey

Barre