Entergy has set a target date for the closure of its Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.Quoting plant officials, the Brattleboro Reformer reported that tentative plans call for the plant to shut down for the last time on Dec. 29. Like other decommissioned reactors, the Vermont Yankee applied for a license amendment reducing its zone of responsibility for emergency management by mid-2016. All of its fuel is expected to be in its spent fuel pool by the end of January, with transfer to dry casks completed by the end of 2020.Entergy announced the unit's closure last August, citing low wholesale power prices, cheap natural gas and the elevated costs of running a single-unit plant. The Vermont Yankee also faced political opposition in the state and years of unsuccessful litigation in opposition to its relicensing. Earlier this month, a water permit drafted by a state agency would allow it to operate through the end of the year but imposed a lower limit for river water temperatures. When it closes in December, the 605 megawatt boiling water reactor will have operated for nearly 43 years.
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Brattleboro Reformer corrected story to say that Vermont Yankee is planned to shut down on December 29. The date is not set.
Anonymous: Thanks for the clarification. I've updated the story accordingly.
Peter
Nuclear Street News Team
It's a shame to shut it down. Been there once for a meeting. It is a well ran little BWR.
