Vermont Nuclear Industry
| Nuclear PowerPlants in Vermont Net Generation and Capacity, 2008 |
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| Plant Name | Unit Number | Net Capacity MW | Net Generation Thousand Kwh | Capacity Factor (percent) | Operator/Owner |
| Vermont Yankee | 1 | 620 | 4,895 | 90 | Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc./Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee |
| Source: Form EIA-860, "Annual Electric Generator Report," and Form EIA-906, "Power Plant Report." | |||||
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 |
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| 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:
Contribution of Nuclear Power
In 2008, the State of Vermont ranked 30th in nuclear capacity and 31st in nuclear generation, last among the states with nuclear powerplants. Monthly and cumulative nuclear generation and annual nuclear capacity for each State and each reactor is reported in a table elsewhere on this site.
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.
| Electricity Market in Vermont, Share of Electricity Output, by Fuel, 2004 to 2007 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Coal | Hydroelectric | Natural Gas |
Nuclear | Other |
| 2007 | 0 | 11 | * | 81 | 8 |
| 2006 | 0 | 21 | * | 72 | 6 |
| 2005 | 0 | 21 | * | 71 | 8 |
| 2004 | 0 | 22 | * | 71 | 8 |
| Source: EIA Survey 923, "Power Plant Operations Report" and Predecessor Forms. * Less than .05 percent. |
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In 2007, nuclear power accounted for 80 percent of the electricity generated by the State, the largest nuclear share for any state. The percentage of electricity generated by coal, gas, nuclear, and hydropower for each state with at least one commercial reactor is reported in the Electricity Market table.
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
Total greenhouse emissions for the electric power industry of each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia, are reported for the most current data year.
Of the 50 States plus the District of Columbia, the electric industry of the State of Vermont ranked lowest in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2007. The State's electric industry ranked lowest in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions and second lowest (following the District of Columbia) in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
| Vermont Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2007 Metric Tons |
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| Year | Carbon Dioxide CO2 |
Sulfur Dioxide SO2 |
Nitrogen Oxides NOx |
| 1990 | 41,530 | 20 | 220 |
| 1991 | 62,984 | 9 | 288 |
| 1992 | 45,358 | 10 | 240 |
| 1993 | 21,810 | 12 | 148 |
| 1994 | 20,864 | 27 | 164 |
| 1995 | 23,836 | 14 | 195 |
| 1996 | 8,462 | 9 | 227 |
| 1997 | 16,660 | 16 | 407 |
| 1998 | 55,581 | 12 | 415 |
| 1999 | 41,918 | 2 | 272 |
| 2000 | 121,771 | 18 | 457 |
| 2001 | 43,082 | 6 | 244 |
| 2002 | 15,002 | 5 | 216 |
| 2003 | 25,446 | 40 | 349 |
| 2004 | 21,575 | 42 | 357 |
| 2005 | 13,582 | 65 | 485 |
| 2006 | 10,172 | 41 | 359 |
| 2007 | 9,980 | 33 | 183 |
| Source: EIA-767 and EIA-906 Survey, Energy Information Administration | |||
| Vermont Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (CO2)* |
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| *Carbon Dioxide |
Vermont Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (SO2)* |
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| *Sulfur Dioxide |
Vermont Airborne Emissions, Electricity Sector, 1990-2004 (NOX)* |
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| *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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