By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-999498.mp3
Colchester, VT – Central Vermont Public Service Corporation and Green Mountain Power filed suit in Vermont Superior Court in Windham County Monday seeking to recover costs from cooling tower failures at the nuclear plant. Green Mountain Power Spokesperson Dorothy Schnure.
The utilities contend that Entergy Vermont Yankee breached its contract to use "Good Utility Practice", and not implementing proper maintenance and repair practices led to the tower collapses. The utilities point to a Nuclear Regulatory Commission conclusion that reliance on remote, rather than hands-on, inspections were a factor in the tower failures. Vermont Law School Assistant Professor of Energy and Administrative Law Don Kreis says their contract provides for a discounted rate that the utilities can legitimately attempt to recover.
Ethan Allen Institute Energy Education Project Director Meredith Angwin is curious about the contract details and any insurance the utilities held for power interruptions.
Entergy Vermont Yankee Spokesman Larry Smith told WAMC he could not comment because of the pending litigation. The utilities are seeking compensatory damages of 6.6 million dollars and have requested a jury trial.