DeNuclear Vermont?
:
VY officials threaten to close plant
By CAROLYN LORI�
Reformer Staff
Saturday, May 21, 2005 - BRATTLEBORO -- Calling the current bill on dry cask storage "totally unacceptable," and threatening to shut the plant down early, officials at Vermont Yankee said they will oppose passage of the bill as it makes it way through the Vermont Legislature.
Approved by the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, the bill includes an annual $4 million payment from plant owner Entergy to the state in exchange for permission to store high-level nuclear waste in concrete containers known as dry casks.
Annual payments will be required as long as the spent fuel is stored at the Vernon site, even after the plant is shut down.
...
According to Williams, the bill could jeopardize the continued operation of the nuclear reactor.
"This kind of charge wasn't anticipated [when the plant was purchased in 2002], so it wasn't part of the business plan," said Williams. "If it becomes uneconomical to run [the plant], it will be shut down, absolutely."
...
It is currently licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to run until 2012, but plant officials have stated that they intend to apply for a license extension. If it is granted, the plant could operate until 2032.
...finding solutions for the state's energy future was exactly what they had in mind when crafting the legislation.
"What we've done with this bill is address short-term concerns with long-term goals and that is not easy to do," said Rep. Sarah Edwards, P-Brattleboro.
The bill calls for the establishment of a renewable energy fund that will receive the payments from Entergy. It will be administered by the Department of Public Service.
Given the federal government's failure to open a national repository for high-level nuclear waste, Edwards said the committee had to consider the possibility of the spent fuel remaining in Vernon indefinitely.
Though the bill calls for a minimum annual payment of $4 million -- that figure will increase roughly with the rate of inflation -- it allows Vermont Yankee officials to appeal to the Vermont Public Service Board for redress if it proves to be a financial hardship.
...
Local anti-nuclear groups lauded the bill, saying it reflected the wishes of many Windham County residents.
"The Natural Resources and Energy Committee has done a good job," said Ed Anthes of Nuclear Free Vermont, in an e-mail to the Reformer. "There is recognition that the burden created by [Vermont Yankee's] nuclear waste will be borne by future generations long after electric production has stopped."
The bill is now under consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee. Before going to the floor for a full vote, it must also be passed by the Appropriations Committee.
Finally passage will require approval by the Senate and Gov. James Douglas.
...
According to plant officials, in order to keep the plant running without interruption, construction on the dry casks must begin by spring 2006.
VY officials threaten to close plant
By CAROLYN LORI�
Reformer Staff
Saturday, May 21, 2005 - BRATTLEBORO -- Calling the current bill on dry cask storage "totally unacceptable," and threatening to shut the plant down early, officials at Vermont Yankee said they will oppose passage of the bill as it makes it way through the Vermont Legislature.
Approved by the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, the bill includes an annual $4 million payment from plant owner Entergy to the state in exchange for permission to store high-level nuclear waste in concrete containers known as dry casks.
Annual payments will be required as long as the spent fuel is stored at the Vernon site, even after the plant is shut down.
...
According to Williams, the bill could jeopardize the continued operation of the nuclear reactor.
"This kind of charge wasn't anticipated [when the plant was purchased in 2002], so it wasn't part of the business plan," said Williams. "If it becomes uneconomical to run [the plant], it will be shut down, absolutely."
...
It is currently licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to run until 2012, but plant officials have stated that they intend to apply for a license extension. If it is granted, the plant could operate until 2032.
...finding solutions for the state's energy future was exactly what they had in mind when crafting the legislation.
"What we've done with this bill is address short-term concerns with long-term goals and that is not easy to do," said Rep. Sarah Edwards, P-Brattleboro.
The bill calls for the establishment of a renewable energy fund that will receive the payments from Entergy. It will be administered by the Department of Public Service.
Given the federal government's failure to open a national repository for high-level nuclear waste, Edwards said the committee had to consider the possibility of the spent fuel remaining in Vernon indefinitely.
Though the bill calls for a minimum annual payment of $4 million -- that figure will increase roughly with the rate of inflation -- it allows Vermont Yankee officials to appeal to the Vermont Public Service Board for redress if it proves to be a financial hardship.
...
Local anti-nuclear groups lauded the bill, saying it reflected the wishes of many Windham County residents.
"The Natural Resources and Energy Committee has done a good job," said Ed Anthes of Nuclear Free Vermont, in an e-mail to the Reformer. "There is recognition that the burden created by [Vermont Yankee's] nuclear waste will be borne by future generations long after electric production has stopped."
The bill is now under consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee. Before going to the floor for a full vote, it must also be passed by the Appropriations Committee.
Finally passage will require approval by the Senate and Gov. James Douglas.
...
According to plant officials, in order to keep the plant running without interruption, construction on the dry casks must begin by spring 2006.
posted by Greta Jane at Saturday, May 21, 2005
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home