WASHINGTON, March 10 – Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) issued the following joint statement following the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s announcement today regarding Entergy’s Vermont Yankee nuclear plant in Vernon, Vt.

“It should surprise no one that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has voted to extend Vermont Yankee’s license for another 20 years.  The NRC has never denied a nuclear plant an extension, and in fact has granted 62 straight license extensions.  We believe that Entergy should respect and abide by Vermont’s laws, which require approval from the Vermont Legislature, and then the Vermont Public Service Board, for the plant to continue to operate beyond 2012.”