Vermont’s 37-year-old nuclear power plant, Vermont Yankee (located in southeastern Wyndman County and owned by Entergy Corporation) has applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for permission to extend its operating license until 2032 – well past the 2012 expiration date on its current license.
Vermont Yankee produces one-third of the electric power Vermonters use each year. Whether it continues to operate or closes, consumers have much at stake.
According to wcax.com, today (October 26), 2 Senate committees will review testimony on the adequacy of the analysis that allowed Vermont Yankee to store radioactive fuel rods in steel and cement casks on a pad outside the reactor building. At question? The surrounding geology and the radioactive waste measured outside the plant and property.
As background for today’s controversy, here is some history:
Highly radioactive waste was supposed to be removed from nuclear plants by the federal government beginning in 1998; however, no long-term storage solution was ever reached. As a result, plants now store used rods (including Vermont Yankee, who secured approval for outside storage in 2006.) But, Yankee ran out of space in its indoor holding tank in 2008 and now has filled five casks with used fuel rods.
As part of its research into the future reliability of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, consultants were hired to assess the suitability of the site for storage of highly radioactive waste for decades. Those consultants – who are testifying today - said more data is needed if Yankee intends to expand or move the storage.
Operations Vice President for Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee Jay Thayer argued the site was thoroughly evaluated to the satisfaction of state and federal regulators previously, and claims his plant has enough storage for waste through 2032. More space and a different location would be needed when the plant is dismantled, he said.
Beyond not getting a license extension to 2032, there is a strong chance the Legislature will vote to have the plant decommissioned; a worse-case scenario for Thayer and Entergy – and potentially, Vermont.
Yankee is pressing for a decision this winter because of the looming license expiration. Thayer said that delaying the decision until 2011 (when the consultants say further geological studies will be complete) would leave the plant’s 600+ employees in limbo.