Town plans in case N-plant shuts down

The town of Vernon is beginning to think about its future if the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant shuts down when its current license expires in 2012. The Brattleboro Reformer says Vernon planning officials want to look at ways to get beyond Vermont Yankee, such as analyzing tax incentives for new industries, potential redevelopment of the plant site, and reviewing how other towns have dealt with the closing of a nuclear plant. While the plant’s license is set to expire in 2012, the plant’s owner has sought a 20-year license extension. But that was made more complicated last week when Vermont Yankee owner Entergy Nuclear announced it wanted to sell the plant, which has been beset with technical problems in recent years.