WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Uncertainty grows on Vermont Yankee future

Uncertainty grows on Vermont Yankee future

Associated Press - November 4, 2009 1:45 PM ET

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A key Vermont lawmaker says he thinks there's still a possibility the Legislature will vote this coming session on whether to extend the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant's license.

That word from Rep. Tony Klein, chairman of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee, comes after Vermont Yankee's owners missed a Nov. 1 deadline set by legislative leaders for negotiating an agreement with Vermont's utilities on how much power from the plant would cost during a license extension period.

House Speaker Shap Smith says it will be extremely difficult for such a vote to happen, because lawmakers won't have adequate time before the vote to analyze a power purchase deal.

Klein says he thinks there are signs it can still happen.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.