Closing an old and leaky nuke plant

It may seem shocking, but the Vermont senate voted to shut the Vermont Yankee nuclear station, and they want to emblazon their trail into the future with solar and wind power:

Vermont senate votes to close Yankee power plant

It's 38 years old.

It leaks (tritium -- which is a bit radioactive) -- not a big deal to the outside world, though.

The plant's owners lied about it.

A cooling tower fell down.

A few fuel rods have gone missing at the plant.

Surprisingly, given this track record, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission didn't have a problem with giving the plant another 20 years. I do -- if something went wrong with this dinosaur, then that would be a bad mark for an industry trying to regain some forward momentum.

Still, the alternatives are on the far horizon. Here's what Greenpeace says:

"When Americans have the choice about the kind of energy they want in their communities, they don't want nuclear. Vermont has shut down the myth of the so-called nuclear renaissance. Greenpeace is calling on Vermonter legislators to vote against relicensing in the house as well so that the message to America registers loud and clear."

"From farmers and schoolteachers to businesspeople and students, the people of Vermont are overwhelmingly in support of a energy future that relies on clean and safe renewables like wind and solar.

I think the 'peacers are overplaying their hand here. This plant didn't have a future, but getting to a low-carbon economy on just wind and solar, without nukes? Good luck with that; hope you can read by candlelight.