The VPR Vermont Poll shows that voters are taking the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant’s future into account as they decide political races.
The poll shows that 76 percent of voters likely to vote for Democrat Steve Howard oppose extending Vermont Yankee’s operating license past 2012.
On the other hand, 57 percent of voters likely to support Republican Phil Scott support the continued operation of the Vernon reactor.
The same poll showed that in the gubernatorial race 77 percent of voters likely to support Democrat Peter Shumlin said they want the plant to close. Meanwhile, 66 percent of the people planning on voting for Republican Brian Dubie want the plant to keep operating.
Statewide, 44 percent of those surveyed said they want the plant to close, and 39 percent support Vermont Yankee’s license renewal. 17 percent were undecided. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.