Democratic candidate Peter Shumlin calls for closing Vermont Yankee, frames climate as economic opportunity

Peter Shumlin, introduced as a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, told the Battery Park crowd that the coming election is a choice about climate leadership. He criticized an opponent for failing to acknowledge man-made climate change and described Vermont's opportunity to lead on renewables and energy efficiency.

Shumlin called for immediate action at the state level on nuclear licensing and cleanup, saying, "Let's shut down Vermont Yankee in 2012, meet the promise that we made," and argued that moving off oil could create jobs across agriculture, manufacturing and renewable-energy sectors.