Category Archives: Vermont Yankee

Sorrell seeking re-election

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Thatcher Moats | Comments Off

MONTPELIER — Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell announced last fall at a Democratic Party fundraiser he would seek another term and try to retain control of an office he has occupied since 1997.

Since then, however, the state lost the Vermont Yankee case, leading some to see Sorrell as vulnerable. (Sorrell has decided to appeal the VY decision).

That has led to chatter about Sorrell facing a primary from another Democratic opponent, along with the possibility that a strong Republican candidate would see a chance to become AG, though no challengers have emerged.

None of this has dissuaded Sorrell.

Asked Monday if was running this year, he said: “I definitely am.”

Sorrell said he has never faced a primary challenger in his seven previous races and said he doesn’t know if he will this time.

“Oh, you know, there are rumors,” he said.

Whether it’s consumer protection, criminal enforcement, environmental law or civil rights, Sorrell believes he has served Vermont well.

“I’m proud of my record,” he said

But voters will ultimately decide, either in a general election or a primary, Sorrell acknowledged.

“If I have a primary then Democratic voters will have a chance to decide whether they want me to continue in office or not,” he said.

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Posted in Courts & Judiciary, Elections, News, Politics, State Government, Vermont Yankee

Tagged Bill Sorrell

Shumlin on Illuzzi, Vermont Yankee, AFT, Dubie case

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Thatcher Moats | Comments Off

MONTPELIER – The main event for Gov. Peter Shumlin’s presser Wednesday was the distribution of more than $2 million in block grants to communities around Vermont.

But he answered reporters’ questions on numerous topics. Here’s a sample.

VELCO: Shumlin said a plan afoot in the Senate to buy a majority share in the state’s transmission company VELCO (a proposal being championed by Sen. Vince Illuzzi and others) is a crackpot idea.

Shumlin said he respects Iluzzi, but “every once in awhile he has an idea that probably shouldn’t see the light of day, and this is probably one of them.” Continue reading →

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Posted in Energy, Governor, News, Politics, Vermont Yankee

Tagged John Campbell, Peter Shumlin, Vince Illuzzi

Sorrell consults D.C. firm as he weighs Yankee appeal

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Thatcher Moats | Comments Off

MONTPELIER – The Vermont Attorney General’s office has not decided whether to appeal a federal judge’s decision last month that struck down the Legislature’s ability to shutter the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.

A reason for the delay?

The AG has decided to get expert advice from high-powered Washington, D.C. law firm Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd, Evans, and Figel. The firm has an attorney, David Frederick, with extensive appellate experience, said state Attorney General Bill Sorrell. Continue reading →

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Posted in News, Vermont Yankee

Tagged Bill Sorrell

In secret meeting, Shumlin taps pulse of anti-Yankee advocates

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Peter Hirschfeld | Comments Off

A meeting yesterday between Peter Shumlin and anti-Vermont Yankee advocates has been shrouded in secrecy, though nothing particularly controversial seems to have happened during the Fifth Floor confab.

This afternoon, we finally got a high-ranking administration official to confirm the meeting even occurred. In attendance, according to some informal chats today, were representatives of the state’s top environment/energy organizations.

No one has agreed to comment on the record, in accordance with the wishes of the governor. Continue reading →

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Posted in Energy, Governor, News, Politics, Vermont Yankee

Tagged Peter Shumlin

Lawmakers disappointed in Entergy ruling

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Rob Mitchell | Comments Off

From Pete Hirschfeld:

MONTPELIER — On a snowy February day in 2010, Democratic lawmakers celebrated a Senate vote they said would force the closure of Vermont Yankee. On Thursday evening, many of those same legislators huddled to regroup after learning that a federal judge had stripped their authority to shutter the nuclear power plant.

“It’s disappointing that the court found that the people of Vermont, through their Legislature, could not have a voice about the continued operation of the plant,” said House Speaker Shap Smith.

Word of the ruling spread through the Statehouse like wildfire. Shortly after its release, Smith and Senate President John Campbell hunkered in the speaker’s office with a small corps of lawyers and lawmakers to read the 102-page decision and draft a response.

Campbell called the decision from U.S. District Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha a blow to Vermont sovereignty.

“I think it shows the deterioration of states’ rights,” he said.

Continue reading on Rutlandherald.com >>>

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Posted in Energy, Governor, Politics, Vermont Yankee

Tagged murtha, Shumlin

NRC director under fire

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Thatcher Moats | Comments Off

For folks who follow the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant issue/debate/court case/train wreck, the director of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Gregory Jaczko may be a familiar name.

Well, it's not a good news cycle for the man.

The Wall Street Journal has a story today on an internal NRC investigation that says Jaczko "stretegically" withheld information related to the neverending debate about what to do with the country's nuclear waste.

Apparently, the guy can be kind of a jerk, too. The report says he has a temper that makes it "difficult for people to work with him." 

(I was not blocked WSJ's paywall. Hopefully you have the same good fortune).

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Posted in Energy, News, Vermont Yankee

Tagged Nuclear Regulatory Commission