Sen. Peter Shumlin vows bill to secure Vermont Yankee decommissioning funds, criticizes governor's stance

Sen. Peter Shumlin, introduced at the State House rally, told supporters the legislature has the authority to decide Vermont Yankee's future and pledged that the Senate would act to ensure the plant’s decommissioning is fully funded. "We have the power to say that nuclear power is not a public good," Shumlin said, urging accountability for cleanup and criticizing the governor’s perceived deference to the utility.

Shumlin said the House had passed a decommissioning bill and that the Senate was preparing its own measure to send to the governor that would require the company to fully fund decommissioning so taxpayers are not left with the bill. He also argued that replacing Vermont Yankee with local renewables could spur job growth and economic revitalization in Vermont, calling renewable energy a path to long-term prosperity.

He framed the moment as a crossroads for state leadership, saying the legislature must act to protect public safety and the state's economic future. There was applause and cheering from the crowd, and Shumlin closed by urging continued public involvement to maintain pressure on elected officials.