Questions we should ask about Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant

Questions we should ask about Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant
Remember, you'll have the chance to ask anything you want at the DPS hearing, so attend the one nearest you:

Tues, April 1
6 - 8:30 pm Holiday Inn, 476 Route 7 South, Rutland, VT 05701

Weds, March 26
6 - 8:30 pm Doubletree Hotel, 1117 Williston Rd., So. Burlington, VT 05403

Weds, April 2
6 - 8:30 pm Red Roof inn, 1380 Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT  05301

Act 160 requires the DPS to do studies to determine whether it is prudent to approve the relicensing of the Vermont Yankee reactor.

Citizens Awareness Network (CAN) believes that the scope of the study in its present form lacks important analyzing in regards to the economic, environmental and health impacts of continued operation of Vermont Yankee after 2012. The scope must expand to include issues central to the concerns of Vermonters.

These additional studies include but are not limited to:    
*Vulnerability to Terrorism: an analysis of Vermont Yankee’s vulnerability in terms of its fuel pool to an act of malice or accident and its consequences (financial, environmental, health, etc). This should include an analysis of the economic impact of a well-publicized radioactive release--even relatively minor--on [a] Windham County (property values, the impact on the local real estate industry, etc.) and [b] Vermont as a whole (impact on the state’s “green brand” that is essential to tourism--with many  tourists arriving via the I-91 corridor that passes within a few miles of the reactor-- maple sugar, organic dairy and agriculture, etc.). Additionally an analysis of the personal and public health care costs should there be a significant accident – in addition to health care costs associated with ongoing operation, should an independent epidemiological study indicate that there are indeed higher rates of cancer and other radiation-related diseases surrounding the reactor.    

*Reactor Degradation: an analysis of the degradation of reactor components that would lead to a six month or longer shut down for repairs or replacement and the effect on Vermont ratepayers.

*Unworkable Evacuation Plan: an analysis of the adequacy of the evacuation plan for Vermont Yankee in terms of the plan effectively being able to evacuate impacted populations from an act of malice as well as from an accident

*Decommissioning Fund Underfunding: An analysis of the level of under funding of VY’s decommissioning trust fund since decommissioning costs may be astronomically greater than would   otherwise be projected should there be a leak, accident or act of malice prior to decommissioning; the current decommissioning fund is under-funded. The Yankee Rowe reactor cost $39 million to build and over $725 million to clean up, and this does not include the continued monitoring of onsite storage of high-level waste. Rowewas 185 Megawatt reactor; Vermont Yankee is over 600. CT Yankee cost over $1.2 billion to clean up.

*Benefits of Closure: an analysis of how the Vermont economy could benefit by choosing to replace Vermont Yankee, including modeling projections of alternative capital investment by Vermont's utilities. A strategy for Vermont Yankee's replacement should be developed that creates a 20 year model for how   alternative investment can effect the state and how replacement generation could be developed for the 250 Megawatts of power used by Vermont with labor-intensive, often locally-owned companies     involved in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

We have the chance to shut Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant down & invest in alternative energies that can provide just as many jobs and boost the Vermont economy. Go to the hearing on Tuesday if you can ... you're voice matters!

All information provided by Citizens Awareness Network, check out their website