I worked with the employees at Vermont Yankee for many years, and I would like to comment on why it was such a safe workplace and neighbor.
For starters, long before the first nuclear power plant went online, a commitment to safety was hard-wired into the cultural and organizational circuitry of the International Brother of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
In the early days of the United States' electrification, the IBEW fought hard to reduce the high incidence of line-worker electrocution by improving safety design, equipment, and training.
At nuclear plants such as Vermont Yankee, labor's zeal for the safety of its brothers and sisters was joined by the industry's prudent commitment to zero tolerance for safety error and aggressive, skilled oversight by the federal government. It's been this way for decades, and gets more so every year.
And, of course, the good work will continue as the plant is decommissioned.
I am sure I can speak for the past and present members of Local 300 when I say we are proud to have helped Vermont Yankee meet and exceed the very high standard of safety performance set by the IBEW.
I fully agree with Governor Salmon: you done good.