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SW: VY could be safe, but changes needed
In March 2009, 25 towns voted to direct the Vermont state legislature to keep Vermont Yankee from operating past its 2012 license expiration. The votes came during a Town Meeting day in the state; 40 towns considered the issue. Other measures directed Entergy to full fund the plant's decommissioning fund. "Vermont is the only state with a law giving its legislature veto power over continued operation of a nuclear reactor beyond the expiration of its license," according to the ''Brattleboro Reformer''. <ref>"[http://www.reformer.com/ci_11827012?source=most_viewed Voters in 25 towns give no-confidence vote to Vt. Yankee]," ''Brattleboro Reformer'' (Vermont), March 3, 2009.</ref>
A review by [[Nuclear Safety Associates]] concluded that Vermont Yankee (VY) could operate safely past 2012, if Entergy invests needed resources. The report noted many management "weaknesses" at the plant, adding: "The panel recognizes VY's good historical performance but questions whether the transformer fire [in 2004] and the repetitive cooling tower failures [in 2007 and 2008] are indicative of declining performance that will result in unacceptable reliability. ... As nuclear plants age beyond the 40-year mark, the unexpected can occur, and VY is not immune." <ref>Bob Audette, "[http://www.reformer.com/ci_11938943 Panel: VY safe but more resources needed]," ''Brattleboro Reformer'' (Vermont), March 18, 2009.</ref>
==Funds for closing the plant in doubt==
