Entergy Poised To Square Off With VT Over Power Plant

With the federal approval it needed at hand, Entergy is poised to do battle with the state of Vermont over the future of its Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.

Vermont Yankee spokesman Larry Smith says the company won't comment on its legal strategy. But Entergy Chairman and CEO Wayne Leonard said last month the company strongly believes the plant's continued operation is a matter of federal jurisdiction.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said last week that it would grant a license for the plant to run until 2032, but the plant needs a state certificate to operate past 2012. Last year, the state Senate voted to block state utility regulators from issuing one.

Vermont is the only state with a law authorizing the Legislature to vote on renewing a nuclear plant's license