(Host) The Vermont Senate has called for a detailed inspection of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.

Lawmakers say they need the independent inspection before they vote on whether to extend the plant's license for another 20 years.

VPR's John Dillon reports.

(Dillon) The legislature is supposed to vote next year on whether to allow Vermont Yankee to operate after its license expires in 2012.

But over the last year, confidence in the plant has been shaken by a collapse of cooling towers and an unplanned emergency shutdown.

Lawmakers also lack confidence in the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the federal agency that oversees the nuclear industry.

(Cummings) There's been continuing criticism of the NRC. The General Accounting Office of the federal government has expressed concerns that they're too inclined to look at the paper work and just rubberstamp it, the paperwork that comes from the industry.

(Dillon) Washington Senator Anne Cummings chairs the Senate Finance Committee. She says the legislature needs an independent review of the reactor.

(Cummings) Before we consider relicensing, we really need to know the internal condition of the plant. We need to know before we put all our hopes in it for our energy future - or a large portion of our energy future - we need to know it's a reliable hope

(Dillon) The legislation calling for the independent inspection passed on a 24 to 3 vote.

But the Douglas Administration remains opposed to the bill. Governor Douglas has asked the NRC to approve an independent assessment. But Public Service Commissioner David O'Brien says the Senate legislation is unworkable.

(OBiren) What they've developed here is not an audit that will happen.

(Dillon) O'Brien said the audit will take too long, and may never get approved by the NRC.

(O'Brien) This is not something that is feasible or reasonable under the circumstances.

(Dillon) Vermont Yankee also doesn't like the legislation. Spokesman Rob Williams said the inspection would be time-consuming, expensive and redundant.

(Williams) We're looking at having this resolved by the legislature in the 2009 session. Certainly two or more years is very wasteful in terms of time and money.

(Dillon) But the Vermont Public Interest Research Group says the legislation falls short. James Moore is the group's energy expert.

(Moore) We commend the Senate for doing the work that they did on this bill. However, it doesn't go far enough. It looks at approximately 15% of the Vermont Yankee facility. And Vermonters deserve to have the entire facility looked at.

(Dillon) The bill is up for final approval later this week. From there it goes to the House. And The Douglas Administration says that's where it will try to change the bill.

For VPR News, I'm John Dillon in Montpelier.