October 30, 2009
from Rutland Herald

To the Editor:

Although I currently live in New Hampshire, I work at Vermont Yankee and pay taxes to the state.

Before coming here, I worked at Maine Yankee and have seen firsthand what happens to an area when a large employer closes. The real estate market in the Wiscasset area flattened, and this was before the current real estate problems. Property taxes in the area went up drastically. The local schools, police force, and town offices had major budget cuts because the taxes that the town was getting when Maine Yankee was operating dropped drastically. The price of electricity also increased and now, years later, is unbelievably high.

Vermont Yankee provides more than $300,000 to 100 local nonprofit organizations and another $100,000 to United Way annually. Vermont Yankee employs close to 650 people who pay taxes that support the schools, police forces and town offices. Local businesses over the years have benefited from the cost of Vermont Yankee's electricity.

I have worked here for four years and feel that this plant can continue to run safely and efficiently for many more years. The people that work here are dedicated to the safety of this plant and the public and want to see it continue running, not only because it provides us with jobs, but because it is producing inexpensive power for the area, and it is helping the communities that surround the plant.

Please listen to someone who really knows. Closing Vermont Yankee will not be good for Vermont.

CARLA HEATH
Ashuelot, N.H.