Vermont Yankee's boiling water reactor (BWR) is the only reactor in the State of Vermont.

Permanently Shutdown Commercial Reactors: There are no retired reactors located in Vermont.

Nuclear Power Generation in Vermont, 1975 through 2005 Million kilowatthours

Sources: Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-906, Power Plant Report, and predecessor forms.

Nuclear Generation

Electricity generation by nuclear power plants is available for each reactor and each Vermont for the following years:

• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005

Contribution of Nuclear Power

As of January 1, 2005, Vermont ranked 31st and last among the 31 States with nuclear capacity.

French explorers became the first Europeans to observe the fertile mountains that gave the State its name. The 'green mountain' State includes 'green' in philosophy as well: over 90 percent of local electricity generation is provided by emissions-free fuels. Vermont ranks lower than any other State-indeed, even lower than the District of Columbia--in sulfur dioxide emissions. It is also lower than any other State (but slightly higher than Washington, DC) in nitrogen oxides emissions.

Vermont Yankee recently applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for permission to up rate (increase the capacity) of their reactor; it marked the beginning of a lengthy struggle to convince the residents of the State that this request was in their best interest. Up rates usually involve increases of less than 5 percent. The proposed 20 percent increase in capacity was the largest percentage-increase for a single application up to that time.

On April 24, 2006, the Brattleboro Reformer^[1] reported that Vermont Yankee had boosted its output to 115 percent of its original reported capacity. "The power is being increased gradually and this is the fourth pause to collect data. The results are being analyzed by plant workers and the representatives of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission". The capacity uprate was successfully completed in early May.

Vermont Nuclear Highlights

• On December 11, 1967, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issues the first construction permit for Vermont Yankee, the first and only nuclear power plant in the State of Vermont.
• Preliminary EIA data estimate an increase in Vermont Yankee's output in 2005, and the capacity utilization (as measured by the capacity factor, the percentage of the maximum possible generation represented by actual generation) remains at over 90 percent. The Vermont Yankee record was set in 2000. It is anticipated that with a 20 percent increase in capacity, Vermont Yankee could exceed that record in 2006.

License Renewal

On January 27, 2006, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received an application for license renewal for the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station. The current license expires on March 21, 2012.

Air Quality in Vermont

Of the 50 States plus the District of Columbia, the electric industry of the State of Vermont ranks lowest in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The State's electric industry ranks lowest in sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions and next-to-last in nitrogen oxide (NO_X) emissions.

Vermont Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (CO2)*

*Carbon Dioxide

Vermont Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (SO2)*

*Sulfur Dioxide

Vermont Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (NOX)*

*Nitrogen Oxide

^[1] VY (Vermont Yankee) resumes boost: Plant gets approval to increase power to 115%, by Andy Rosen, Brattleboro Reformer, Brattleboro, Vermont, April 24, 2006.

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