BURLINGTON, Vt., Feb. 17 – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell filed an appeal in federal court on behalf of the state’s bid to shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant:

“I support the decision by Vermont to appeal the flawed ruling by Judge Murtha in the Vermont Yankee litigation. I believe the law is clear that states have the right to reject nuclear power based on economic and other reasons that have nothing to do with safety.

“The Vermont Senate in a bipartisan 26-4 vote decided against renewing Vermont Yankee’s license. If Vermont wants to move to energy efficiency and sustainable energy, no corporation should have the right to force our state to stay tethered to an aging, problem-ridden nuclear plant.”