Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant
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Vermont Yankee is a boiling water reactor (BWR) type nuclear power plant currently owned by Entergy Nuclear. It is located in the town of Vernon, Vermont and generates 620 megawatts (MWe) of electricity. The plant began commercial operations in 1972. It provides Vermont with nearly three fourths (73%) of its electrical generating capacity [1] prior to the 2006 uprate and meets 35% of the overall energy requirements of the state. [2] The nuclear plant uses the adjacent Connecticut River for condenser cooling water.
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[edit] Ownership and Operational License
On July 31, 2002, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee (ENVY) purchased Vermont Yankee from Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation for $180 million. Entergy received the reactor complex, nuclear fuel, inventories, and related real estate. The liability to decommission the plant, as well as related decommissioning trust funds of approximately $310 million, was also transferred to Entergy. The acquisition included a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) under which three of the former owners will buy a portion of the electricity produced by the reactor, which is longer than term remaining for the current operating license for the plant, which expires on March 21, 2012. [3]
In 1978, the Vermont Yankee reactor was the subject of Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., an important United States Supreme Court administrative law case which ruled that courts cannot impose procedures upon the NRC as this exceeds their power of judicial review.
As a result of an NRC approved Extended Power Uprate (EPU), Vermont Yankee achieved its new rated power of 650MWe (120% of its original design capacity of 540MWe) on May 6, 2006. The gradual power increase to the higher power level was delayed at several points to permit additional analysis of excessive vibration of the reactor's steam dryer.
[edit] Dry fuel storage
Following the failure of the federal government to provide permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel on the promised schedule, Vermont Yankee's spent fuel pool contents are nearing capacity. Entergy Nuclear has gained approval for enough dry cask spent fuel storage to allow continued operation beyond the existing reactor operating license expiry date in 2012. Loading spent fuel into transportable dry fuel storage casks is also a step toward sending it to a central federal repository when available. Most of the spent fuel will continue to be stored underwater in the spent fuel pool.
[edit] Closure/Extension Planning
Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license extension of 20 years on 27 January 2006. A decision on this extension is likely in 2008. [4]
In May 2006, the Vermont State Legislature passed Act 160. [5] Pursuant to this Act (S.124), Vermont Yankee may not operate after its current termination date in 2012, unless the general assembly determines that operation of the plant will promote the general welfare and grants its approval. To set the groundwork for that determination, the bill requires the public service department, with the review of the joint energy committee, to arrange for studies to be conducted to support the general assembly in the fact‑finding and public engagement process established in the bill. These studies shall have general objectives of facilitating public discussion of long‑term economic and environmental issues relating to the operation of any nuclear facility in the state, including the potential need for the facility and its long‑term economic and environmental benefits, risks, and costs. The studies also are to address long‑term accountability and financial responsibility issues, such as: funding plans for guardianship of nuclear waste before removal of nuclear waste from the site; closure obligations; federal obligations; funding for emergency management requirements and evacuation plans before and after plant closure; and dry cask storage and decommissioning options.
[edit] Cooling Tower Collapse
On August 22, 2007, the fourth cell of Vermont Yankee's three story west cooling tower collapsed. A large amount of cooling water flowed out of the tower's damaged pipe line following the collapse until operators were able to isolate the tower. The spilled water was collected in the same concrete basin below the towers that is used when the towers are functioning properly. Operators immediately reduced reactor power to 30% capacity following the event.
The spilled cooling water was part of the non-radioactive circulating water system which draws from the Connecticut River. The collapse was an industrial safety event and did not threaten the integrity of the reactor or release any radiation into the environment. The plant's primary source of condenser cooling water is the river itself. The cooling towers are used to further cool the condenser cooling water at times when the river is not cold enough to absorb the plant's rejected heat and meet the environmental discharge permit. The NRC has stated that the remaining cooling tower is enough to allow the plant to return to full capacity at any time, however up until September 16, 2007 the reactor operated at 50% power.
The cause of the collapse was found to be corrosion / rotting of lumber due to carbon steel bolts. Also dry rot was found in some beams. A beam failed and caused the cell to sag which caused the main pipe to begin leaking water. This water collected and the extreme extra weight from this large amount of extra water caused other beams to fail. Entergy admitted that although the inspection process was superior to the recommendations made by the cooling tower design/construction company it was inadequate. The remote robotic cameras being used to perform inspections were not able to reach the areas where the rot was the most prevalent. Because of this failure both towers had complete inspections performed based on the information learned from the failure. Entergy has asserted that future inspections will be much more stringent in order to guarantee no further problems in the future.
[edit] Controversy
The partial collapse of the cooling tower and a reactor scram in 2007 have each been traced to shortcomings in the maintenance of equipment, and both have raised questions about the reliability of the power station[6]
These events have shaken the confidence of Vermonters and our neighbors in New Hampshire and Massachusetts about the safety and reliability of the plant. They have brought into question whether Vermont Yankee should operate beyond its present operating license expiration date of 2012
– Governor Jim Douglas
In March 2008 the Governor stated that, before the State of Vermont is in a position to consider a license extension for Vermont Yankee, a comprehensive reliability and safety assessment of the power station should be conducted.[6]
Also in March 2008, a state Senate committee advised that it wanted the Legislature to appoint a panel that would oversee an independent review of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Entergy Nuclear, which owns the plant, has said the review is unnecessary.
Anti-nuclear groups have said that the proposal doesn't go far enough.[7] There have been protests in relation to continued operation of the plant.[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Vermont Nuclear Industry (html). Energy Information Administration (2006-09-28). Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
- ^ US Nuclear Plants; Vermont Yankee (html). Energy Information Administration (2005-03-18). Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
- ^ Vermont Yankee finally sold to Entergy (html). Vermont Business Magazine (2002-09-01). Retrieved on 2007-03-16.
- ^ Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station - License Renewal Application (html). Nuclear Regulatory Commission (2007-02-27). Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
- ^ An Act Relating to a Certificate of Public Good for Extending the Operating License of a Nuclear Power Plant (html). The Vermont General Assembly (2006-05-18). Retrieved on 2007-03-15.
- ^ a b Governor Urges NRC to Approve Independent Safety Assessment
- ^ Senate committee wants oversight of Vermont Yankee
- ^ Eleven arrested in latest protest over Vermont Yankee
[edit] External links
- Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant is at coordinates Coordinates:
- Informational
