State finds too many questions on Yankee plan

By SUSAN SMALLHEER Southern Vermont Bureau

MONTPELIER — There are too many unanswered questions about Entergy Nuclear’s plan to boost power production by 20 percent at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, according to the state.

In testimony filed with the Public Service Board, the Public Service Department said Friday that Entergy Nuclear hadn’t made its case that the $60 million project was in the best interests of the state and deserved a certificate of public good.

However, the state’s nuclear engineer, William Sherman, said that more information from Entergy Nuclear about its plans might change the state’s evaluation.

“Both the benefits and the costs of the proposal are small,” Sherman stated at the beginning of his 25-page document. “However, more information is necessary to determine if the proposal results in a benefit to the state and its residents.”

Sherman also said it “may be possible” for Entergy to answer the public’s questions about emergency planning and evacuation considerations.

“If these concerns were resolved, the department could recommend Entergy be granted a certificate of public good,” Sherman concluded.

The Public Service Department acts as the public’s advocate in Entergy’s effort to increase power at the 31-year-old reactor. Entergy must receive both state and federal approval for the plan, which has run into local opposition with residents and activists concerned about putting additional pressure on an aging plant.

Two weeks ago, the Public Service Board held a hearing in Vernon about the proposal, with residents asking for an independent safety evaluation of the plan.

Many people claimed there was no economic benefit to Vermonters from the increased power production. They said increased production would aggravate the problem of the plant lacking storage for its spent uranium fuel, which is considered highly radioactive.

At the time, residents criticized Entergy for not disclosing exactly how it would increase production, something the company says is still under evaluation.

Vermont Yankee would be only the fourth plant in the country to get permission to increase power production by 20 percent. There are 104 commercial nuclear reactors in the country and Vermont Yankee is one of the oldest and smallest of the reactors.

Vermont Yankee’s prior owners, a consortium of New England utilities including Central Vermont Public Service Corp. and Green Mountain Power, rejected a 5 percent power uprate.

Entergy Nuclear, based in Jackson , Miss. , wants to increase production at the 540-megawatt plant, adding 110 megawatts of power. Vermont utilities would be able to bid on the new power.

Sherman said the state needed additional information about the potential costs of extended power outages, and the inability to implement dry cask storage. Entergy Nuclear wants to store spent nuclear fuel in concrete casks in a special facility outside the plant, but on its Vernon property.

Entergy Nuclear spokesman Robert Williams said that the company had a copy of the state’s filing, but he declined to make a specific comment.

“We’re still in the process of reviewing it and we look forward to presenting our side in the upcoming hearings,” he said.

Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com.