VERNON — I have read a lot of articles discussing “safety” and “reliability” when it comes to Vermont Yankee.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulates safety at the plant. This is done by providing two full-time inspectors and implementing an inspection program that includes about 12 specialist inspections per year.
All of Vermont Yankee's findings over the recent past have been “green” on the NRC's color-coding scheme, indicating that the plant is considered very safe by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Information about Vermont Yankee's safety record can be found at www.nrc.gov.
Reliability at Vermont Yankee is monitored by the nuclear industry itself. In 1979, the nuclear industry formed the Institute for Nuclear Plant Operations to promote excellence in nuclear plant operation through plant evaluations, training accreditation, events analysis, and assistance.
Industry efforts to improve plant reliability have been very successful, with plant capacity factors reaching well into the 90-percent range. Vermont Yankee is recognized as a top industry performer and has historically had very high capacity factors.
Since 2002, Vermont Yankee has had two breaker-to-breaker operating cycles, which means the plant operated nonstop for an 18-month fuel cycle, resulting in a capacity factor of 100 percent.
By all objective, fact-based measures, Vermont Yankee is both a safe and reliable plant. I would think that people who look objectively at the operation of the plant will come to the same conclusion and welcome 20 more years of safe and reliable operation.