Who won and lost the week in Vermont news and politics?

Nukers, governors, firefighters, posturers, farmers, government contractors, Wiffleballers and… Bill Sorrell.

Here’s the Scoreboard for the week of Friday, August 15: 

Winners:

Entergy — Say what you will about Vermont Yankee — that its finances are shaky, its employees are being laid off, it won’t last another refueling cycle or two, the Public Service Board will shut ’em down — but a win’s a win. And Entergy, VY’s Louisiana-based owner, won big this week. Runner-up winner: Entergy’s hired gun, attorney Kathleen Sullivan, who’s now two for two.

Peter Shumlin — Three and a half years ago, Senate President Pro Tem Shumlin heroically led his chamber to reject granting Vermont Yankee another 20-year license. That political victory led him to the governor’s office — and the state to a two-year, million-dollar legal battle. Now that the state’s lost at the appellate court level, ol’ Teflon Shummy seems once again to be dodging the blame. Which reminds us of an apt question posed by Vermont Public Radio’s Bob Kinzel last September: “Some say your strategy has been a total failure. You’ve achieved none of your goals, and you’ve cost the state millions in legal fees with more costs to come. Why are they wrong?” 

Peter Shumlin — Because Dodge Gate is now finally, totally, officially over. Runner-up loser: Peter Shumlin in 14 months, when Dodge Gate will be featured in his opponent’s 30-second TV ads. Second-runner-up loser: Peter Shumlin in five years, when the bulk of Dodge’s $30k debt comes due.

Paul Heintz was part of the Seven Days news team from 2012 to 2020. He served as political editor and wrote the "Fair Game" political column before becoming a staff writer.