Vermont Yankee nuclear plant’s owners, who filed suit this week over whether the state can legally close the plant, are now seeking a court order that would prevent that from happening until courts have ruled on the jurisdiction challenge.
Entergy filed a request for a preliminary injunction Friday in U.S. District Court in Burlington, asking a judge to preserve the status quo and bar the state from shutting down the nuclear power plant in Vernon.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently granted Vermont Yankee a new 20-year operating license. But the state of Vermont, which contends it has the power to close the plant in March 2012, appears unlikely to agree to a renewal of its state permit.
No hearing has been set on the request for preliminary injunction.