A measure to allow the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant to operate after 2012 was voted down by the Vermont state Senate on Wednesday.

A proposal that would have authorized state officials to issue a so-called public good certificate to plant operators voted 26-4 to be rejected by the lawmakers. The New York Times reported that under Vermont law, the certificate is required to keep the plant in operation.

The plant has experienced leaks of radioactive tritium and the collapse of a cooling tower in 2007 said the opponents of allowing the 38-year-old Vermont Yankee to remain operating after its current license expires in 2012. It was also noted by them that plant officials had given misleading testimony to lawmakers.

Plant officials had said in sworn testimony Vermont Yankee had no underground pipes that would leak tritium, but the plant's owner -- Entergy, based in Louisiana -- subsequently acknowledged there were such pipes and said some of its employees had been disciplined for the misleading testimony.

The Times further said that unless the state Senate changes course, Vermont Yankee would be the first U. S. nuclear reactor in more than 20 years to be shut down by authority of the public or a government. (With Input from Agencies)