I’m very optimistic that the “significant progress” made in the NorthStar/Vermont Yankee decommissioning settlement negotiations will result in a positive decision within a short period of time (State reports more progress in Yankee talks, Feb. 2).
As a local legislator and school board member, I have a deep sense of duty to support economic growth for my community. Vernon initially expected the Vermont Yankee site to remain in SAFSTOR for 50 or 60 years until NorthStar came along with a detailed plan to complete the job in a fraction of the time.
When the project was first announced in November, 2016, it gave our community a sense of hope that the town’s most valuable job-creating, revenue-producing industrial property could begin to prosper in as soon as 10 years.
As we studied the plan and talked with NorthStar and Entergy leaders, I, along with Vernon’s town leaders, became confident that this proposal was the answer to our vision for a safe, prosperous future for Vernon and Windham County. Since Vernon’s endorsement of the NorthStar project, the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation also announced support.
I am hopeful that the major negotiating parties will reach an agreement soon and pave the way to a successful ending of this era of community and county transition.
Rep. Mike Hebert
Vernon, Vt.