Union says state needs Yankee jobs
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By DANIEL BARLOW VERMONT PRESS BUREAU - Published: February 11, 2010
MONTPELIER — A union representing some of Vermont Yankee's workers went on the defensive Wednesday for the troubled nuclear power plant, saying 20 more years of operation would ensure the continuation of nearly 1,300 jobs.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 300 issued a report showing that in addition to the 670 jobs at Vermont Yankee, the existence of that business generates an additional 618 jobs across the state.
Those jobs equal about $93.3 million in annual wages for Vermonters and residents of other nearby states who work at the facility, according to George Clain, president of IBEW Local 300.
"I've yet to see a discussion started about the economic impact of Vermont Yankee," Clain said during an afternoon press conference at the Statehouse in Montpelier. "That needs to be brought to the forefront."
The 19-page report was prepared for the union by Northern Economic Consulting Inc. of Westford. Richard Heaps, the owner of that firm, said this was the third time in 10 years he has studied the economic impact of Vermont Yankee. The last two times were for the Vermont Department of Public Service and Entergy, the company that owns Vermont Yankee.
Heaps said Vermont Yankee's 670 jobs stimulate the local and state economy when workers purchase from local stores, eat at local restaurants and support local businesses. While many businesses have cut back on staff, Vermont Yankee's level of employment has remained steady, he said, and wages there have increased slightly.
"We have lots of skilled, highly paid workers at Vermont Yankee," he said. "And they take their disposable income and spend it at local stores."
One issue that was not mentioned at the press conference Wednesday was Vermont Yankee's ongoing tritium leak and the political scandal alleging that Entergy officials misled the state into believing it did not have underground radioactive pipes.
When asked if union workers were frustrated with Entergy for being the source of these controversies – and possibly jeopardizing its own license extension – Clain said he did not place any blame with the company.
"Do I blame Entergy? No," he said. "Do I blame the Statehouse? Probably not."
William Driscoll, vice president of Associated Industries of Vermont, an organization for manufacturers, said the report details what he has been stressing to lawmakers in the Statehouse: Vermont Yankee has a major economic impact in the state.
"It's clear that Vermont Yankee is more than just a supplier of affordable and reliable electricity for Vermont," he said. "There are many other businesses across the state that benefit from the plant and the jobs there."
Bob Stannard, a lobbyist for the anti-nuclear group Citizens Action Network, said no one ever doubted that Vermont Yankee is a large employer. But he said he and others worry about the long-term environmental consequences of running the nearly 40-year-old facility for another 20 years.
"If we allow this plant to continue running, we can expect to hear about many, many more problems there," he said.
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