WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vt. Yankee to Store Radioactive Waste for Next 100 Years
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Montpelier, Vermont - October 26, 2009
As Vermont Yankee seeks permission to operate for another 20 years, past 2012, lawmakers are looking at sevearl aspects of the plant, including radioactive waste.
"No one wants to see high level nuclear waste on the banks for the Connecticut River over a long period of time," said Senator Ginny Lyons/D-Chitteden County.
But that is what is likely to happen. The waste was supposed to be moved by the federal government in 1998, but there is still no long term nuclear storage solution. Vermont Yankee ran out of room in its indoor tank and now has five filled casks outside with used fuel rods.
"Basically what we are hearing today is that a site that was never intended to be a high level nuclear waste dump, is most likely going to be a high level nuclear waste dump," said Bob Stannard with Citizens Action Network.
Vermont Yankee told lawmakers it's pushing federal officials for a solution, sooner, so it doesn't have to keep building more storage in Vernon.
"My company is advocating not leaving it on site for the next 100 years," explained Jay Thayer with Entergy.
"I think it's the issue that an accident could happen and who's responsibility is that," said Sen. Ginny Lyons, "The issue is that its placed on a site that is stable and so it won't be thrown into the Connecticut River because of erosion."
The company made it clear that current storage is safe and extra costs to store nuclear waste won't get passed on to Vermonters, but some lawmakers weren't buying it.
"Fool me for 40 years is one thing, try to fool us for 20 more years.... that's what we are being asked to do here," said Sen. Mark MacDonald/D-Orange County.
Meanwhile Vermont Yankee and Vermont power companies are trying to negotiate a new contract for what power will cost Vermonters if the plant is relicensed for another 20 years. Lawmakers have set a deadline, saying if there is no deal by November first, they will not hold a vote on relicensing this session, possibly putting the issue off for another year.
Both Vermont Yankee and Vermont utilities say the talks continue, but neither would say if they could seal a power purchase deal by November first.
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