News Release > Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee Announces Accelerated Start of Dry Fuel Storage Loading Campaign

Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee Announces Accelerated Start of Dry Fuel Storage Loading Campaign

12/15/2015

VERNON, Vermont – Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee announced today that it plans to begin transferring spent nuclear fuel from “wet” to “dry” storage starting in 2017, two years earlier than originally planned.  The change will provide an even higher level of confidence that the transfer of all spent nuclear fuel that is in the spent fuel pool to dry cask storage and placed on two storage pads will be complete by the end of 2020. 

The plant’s ability to transfer all spent fuel to two Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation pads by the end of 2020 depends on obtaining a Certificate of Public Good from the VT Public Service Board that authorizes ENVY to begin construction of the second storage pad in early-2016.  ENVY expects to complete construction of the second pad in 2017.

The plant’s dry storage system vendor has indicated that it will be able to accelerate the delivery schedule of dry fuel storage equipment as well as ensure the availability of qualified personnel to facilitate the earlier start of the transfer of spent nuclear fuel from the spent fuel pool to dry storage.

While certain costs would be incurred earlier than originally planned, the overall cost of the dry storage project would remain the same. Starting the campaign in 2017 is a safe and efficient option for completing the transfer of all spent nuclear fuel to dry storage by the end of 2020.

ENVY has committed to fund the approximately $145 million project, which includes the construction of the second pad, procurement of dry fuel storage systems, and transfer of the fuel from the spent fuel pool to dry storage, from external credit lines, rather than from the Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund.  This is the most cost effective option that provides the timely transfer of all spent nuclear fuel to dry storage while optimizing growth of the Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund.

For more information about decommissioning, visit vydecommissioning.com

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation’s leading nuclear generators. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.8 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $12 billion and approximately 13,000 employees.