As anniversary of VT's historic vote nears Entergy Louisiana effort to overturn it continues

by: stardust

Wed Feb 09, 2011 at 19:35:34 PM EST

On the anniversary of the historic and infamous vote by VT senate to close Entergy Louisiana owned Vermont Yankee, on schedule, by nearly unanimous 26-4 vote, Entergy Louisiana continues its fear mongering campaign and 'sky is falling' message to VT residents with all out assault on the state. The big prize? To overshadow and thereby obscure VT's victory, all taking place on the anniversary of the vote, hopefully with favorable outcome for them.

Obvious mission to undermine the will of the people by overturning the vote taken one year ago to shutter VY on schedule. Using their corporate might, attempted muscling of VT is very bald. This includes VT business community aligned with AIV-Entergy is also a member, and very own Entergy sponsored VTEP, a 'diverse business group' in which all members share at least one thing in common, all support VY continued operation-Entergy is also a member.

With VT news media at its disposal, in this past year continuing to the present VT has been bombarded with full page ads from Entergy Louisiana promoting VY as they & apologists attempted to explain away the series of failures spanning six years which served as evidence the plant had fallen into a state of disrepair due to faulty maintenance procedures by the company.

Ads were stopped when VT AG ruled they contained false information. Media blitz from Entergy Louisiana including employees and VT businesses all appearing as virtual bots in Stepford-like trance, as well as slanted & erroneous missives from a variety of sources, primarily VTEP staffers doing double duty as 'energy lobbyists' to legislature, Brad Ferland & Guy Page. Also including academicians from NH & VT, who have no nuclear experience or credentials, as evidenced by their irrelevent and inaccuracy-laden commentary. Valley News 1/19/2011 letter titled, "The Truth About Tritium" by Thomas Curphey, is a mere straw man argument as tritium itself has never been the main issue but the spin orchestrated by Entergy Lousiana. Another, Brattleboro Reformer "Free speech, energy choices and public health" op-ed  by Gerry Silverstein, frequent VY apologist to VT news media, in which he compares the health of 38 year old plant to a 38 year old human body, was very strange since this is from a UVM professor teaching medical students. Facepalm.  

Part of the present strategy, Entergy Louisiana now demands VT legislature ignore & rescind its unique position regarding Entergy Louisiana's VT Yankee. More strongarm tactics, intent thereof is to virtually overturn the decision agreed upon by Entergy, VT regulatory agencies and legislature & signed into law by governor Douglas to give VT legislature oversight of the plant using nuclear experts & professionals commissioned by state, acting as consultants to oversee & report to them conditions and related activities of the plant. They are now expected to reverse, by fiat, this enhanced legisalation. PSB is expected by Entergy Louisiana to make a decision on CPG, yet another attempt to defy the state control solely within VT's purview.

According to VT media sources, Entergy lobbyists & supporters press on to make their case for continued operation of the troubled nuclear plant to VT and legislature as noted in this story in Brattleboro Reformer, including the letter from VY supporting trade groups in Reformer story, which was also sent to other VT news orgs, all emphasis mine:
Pro-VY firms urge Shumlin to let PSB do its work
http://www.reformer.com/localn...
From story:"Rep. Michael Hebert, R-Vernon, said he agrees with the Thursday letter. A longtime supporter of the plant, Hebert said he will file legislation next week to allow the PSB to complete their task", that would now be this week.

William Driscoll: "It is clear the Legislature needs to act this session."

"Nevertheless, Yankee advocates said if Vermont cannot secure effective renewable energy projects at a lower price than a new power purchase agreement with Entergy, lawmakers must reopen conversations about keeping the plant operational."

Entergy simultaneously continues negotiation for a PPA with VT elec utilities, VPR:
"Entergy Continues To Negotiate Power Deal, While Utilities Plan On Future Without Yankee"
http://www.vpr.net/news_detail...

The 1/22/2011 newsletter from VPIRGs James Moore says this: "Entergy's plan is to get the Vermont utilities on their side by signing power deals with them.  Then the really heavy lobbying will begin: to reverse last year's vote." Small wonder has has been the target of threats.

According to 2/8/2011 AP story, in conference call to investors, as stock tumbles once again-27%-after previous ratings valued Entergy stock just above junk bond status. Entergy Louisiana CEO Wayne Leonard claims VT is 'pushing the company into a corner & is unsure when the line will be drawn in the sand to oppose this', and ever-present implied threat to VTs right to decide whether to continue to allow VY continued operation, "We strongly believe that this is federal jurisdiction. We have choices that need to be made and we'll make them at the appropriate time."
http://www.boston.com/news/loc...
Coincidence or strategically timed?

In a blog post, Yes Vermont Yankee blogger makes considerable commentary regarding Entergy/VY events. After making the details of contract with H-Q appear to be a scandal she has uncovered, then claims to 'go out on a limb' graciously offering her advice to Entergy and suggesting a price to VT elec utilities in negotiations this week. She then posts excerpts of back & forth letters from McClaughry/VT PSB.
The Letters
From McClaughry:
"Your Board has an obligation to determine whether a PPA merits a certificate of public good. At the same time that the Board is deliberating on this docket, the General Assembly will be debating whether to allow Entergy Vermont Yankee to pursue a certificate of public good for extending Vermont Yankee's operating period for another twenty years."

From Kurt Janson, General Counsel of the PSB
"...public disclosure of the Confidential Information relating to price and credit arrangements would provide an entity seeking to sell power to, or purchase power from, the Buyers (or HQUS) with knowledge as to the Buyers' (or HQUS's) position on several of the most significant factors"[..]
http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2011...

If we thought the fearmongering falsehoods regarding IBM moving out of VT during the campaign had finally been put to rest following Dubie's supposed 'conversation'-never supported by any IBM personnel by the way-well, it wasn't. In another recent attack from Entergy apologists, VT Tiger siezed IBM testimony to legislative committee in WCAX story and falsely declared IBM had stated clearly if VY does not continue, they will leave the state. Veteran newsman & now VTDigger journalist Jon Margolis had by far the most informative & comprehensive story covering all aspects of the issue:
http://vtdigger.org/2011/02/05...

- Links to the brouhaha
The story:
http://www.wcax.com/Global/sto...
http://www.burlingtonfreepress...
http://blogs.burlingtonfreepre...
ProVY bloggers weigh in & repeat other blogger's fallacious comments:
http://www.vermonttiger.com/co...
http://www.vermonttiger.com/co...
http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2011...

Prior to IBM snafu, events took a rather ugly and decidedly nasty turn involving some of the same players, when VPIRG staffer James Moore was the recipient of threats from an unnamed colleague of Ethan Allen Institute president John McClaughry, and posted in his EAI newsletter.

Another unclear threat but similiarly including violence was made in 'Yes Vermont Yankees' Meredith Angwin in her blog. They all laughed it off & accused Moore of taking it too seriously, with McClaughry, ever the arrogant jerk, suggesting he seek psychriatric help. However the message, intent & threat-actual or implied, was quite sheer. In my personal experience, fortunatly and not surprisingly this un-Vermont like, strange sense of humor is shared exclusively by these individuals and their ilk: Entergy Louisiana supporters, VY apologists, pronuclear claque & those involved with related agendas.
- Links to Threatgate
Synopsis by VTDigger:
http://vtdigger.org/2011/01/22...
Shay Totten also includes this in his blog:
http://www.7dvt.com/2011tarred...
CAN's Bob Stannard has a good one as well:
http://vtdigger.org/2011/01/25...
YVY:
http://yesvy.blogspot.com/2011...

As the debacle continues, Entergy Louisiana continues their quest to break the will of Vermonters and force its agenda as it continues to occupy the state. Surely we will continue to see the same sharks circling in and around VT for the opportune time to move in for the kill.