BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – Peter Alexander, the executive director of the anti-nuclear New England Coalition, is leaving and the group has decided not to hire a replacement.

Alexander, who has led the organization for almost two years, is taking a position with the Madison, Wis.-based Biodiversity Project.

The coalition, which relies largely on private donations to pay its legal and technical fees, has decided not to replace Alexander, who was the first director in the organization’s 33 years.

Instead, the savings, described as significant by Diana Sidebotham, president of the coalition’s board of trustees, will be used to focus on the group’s current campaign regarding Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant.

The coalition is currently testifying before the Vermont Public Service Board on a proposal that would put nuclear waste storage containers at Vernon plant. The coalition is also challenging a request to boost the Vernon reactor’s power.

Alexander was hired as New England Coalition’s first executive director in December 2003. The coalition’s board of trustees has not met since Alexander announced he was leaving. Sidebotham said when they do get together, they will discuss how they’ll “trim their sails and refocus.”