Website: [vydecommissioning.com](https://vydecommissioning.com/) ### Introduction The Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station is located in Vernon, Vermont, near the Connecticut River in the southeastern part of the state. Commissioned on November 30, 1972, the plant was initially owned and operated by the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation, a consortium of regional utilities. It was later acquired by Entergy Corporation, a publicly traded company (ticker: ETR), in 2002. The plant's history spans over four decades of operation, during which it faced significant public and political scrutiny, including protests over safety concerns and opposition to its license renewal in the early 2010s. A notable event was the detection of tritium leaks in 2010, which heightened public concern and led to increased regulatory oversight. Vermont Yankee ceased operations on December 29, 2014, primarily due to economic challenges stemming from low natural gas prices and high operating costs, marking the end of nuclear power generation in Vermont. Currently, Vermont Yankee is in the decommissioning phase, with ownership transferred to NorthStar Group Services, Inc., through its subsidiaries NorthStar Nuclear Decommissioning Company, LLC, and NorthStar Vermont Yankee, LLC, in January 2019. The decommissioning process, which began shortly after the sale, is being conducted on an accelerated timeline with the goal of completing major activities by 2030 or earlier. This transition reflects a broader trend of nuclear plant closures in the United States due to economic pressures, while efforts continue to ensure safe dismantlement and site restoration [NRC.gov](https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/decommissioning/power-reactor/vermont-yankee), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant). ### Technical Specifications | Specification | Details | |------------------------|--------------------------------| | Reactor Type | Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) | | Reactor Model | General Electric BWR-4 | | Number of Units | 1 | | Net Capacity (MWe) | 620 MWe | | Thermal Capacity (MWt) | 1,912 MWt | | Cooling System | Once-through (Connecticut River reservoir pool) | | Fuel Type | Low-enriched uranium dioxide | | Commercial Operation | November 30, 1972 | | Grid Connection | ISO New England | These specifications highlight Vermont Yankee's role as a significant power producer during its operational years, contributing a substantial portion of Vermont's electricity [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant). ### Licensing and Regulatory Status - **Original Operating License Date and Expiration**: Issued in 1972, set to expire in March 2012. - **License Renewal Status**: Renewed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in March 2011 for an additional 20 years, extending the license to March 2032, though the plant shut down before utilizing this extension. - **Current NRC Oversight Status**: Under NRC oversight for decommissioning, with regular inspections and reporting requirements to ensure compliance with safety and environmental standards. - **Ongoing Regulatory Issues**: No major unresolved issues reported as of the latest updates; decommissioning activities are proceeding under approved plans. - **Decommissioning Details**: The plant shut down on December 29, 2014. The decommissioning method is DECON (immediate dismantlement), with a target completion date for major activities by 2030. Spent nuclear fuel remains on-site in dry cask storage, awaiting a [[Federal|federal]] solution for permanent disposal [NRC.gov](https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/decommissioning/power-reactor/vermont-yankee), [Department of Public Service](https://publicservice.vermont.gov/vermont-nuclear-decommissioning-citizens-advisory-panel-vt-ndcap). ### Ownership and Operations - **Current Owner/Operator**: NorthStar Nuclear Decommissioning Company, LLC, and NorthStar Vermont Yankee, LLC, subsidiaries of NorthStar Group Services, Inc., since January 2019. - **Parent Company Financial Position**: NorthStar Group Services, Inc. is a private company specializing in nuclear decommissioning and environmental remediation. Financial specifics are not publicly disclosed, but the company has committed significant resources to the Vermont Yankee project under regulatory agreements. - **Employment and Economic Impact**: During operation, Vermont Yankee employed hundreds of workers and was a major economic driver in Vernon. Decommissioning has reduced employment, though it still supports jobs related to dismantlement and site restoration. - **Annual Generation**: Not applicable as the plant ceased operations in 2014 [Department of Public Service](https://publicservice.vermont.gov/vermont-nuclear-decommissioning-citizens-advisory-panel-vt-ndcap). ### Recent News and Developments | Date | Event | Details | |---------------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | December 19, 2025 | Nuclear Waste Storage Discussions | Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Energy is pushing to address stranded nuclear waste, potentially impacting communities like Windham County near Vermont Yankee [VTDigger via X](https://x.com/vtdigger/status/2002041739117207710). | | September 29, 2025 | Deconstruction Nearing Completion | Deconstruction of major buildings at Vermont Yankee is nearing completion, marking significant progress in decommissioning [WAMC](https://www.wamc.org/news/2025-09-29/deconstruction-of-vermont-yankee-nuclear-power-plant-buildings-nearing-completion). | | May 2025 | NorthStar Decommissioning Report | NorthStar released its latest report on decommissioning activities, detailing progress and adherence to timelines [Department of Public Service](https://publicservice.vermont.gov/vermont-nuclear-decommissioning-citizens-advisory-panel-vt-ndcap). | | October 10, 2023 | Decommissioning Progress Update | Continued progress reported on decommissioning, with NorthStar assisting in exploring future site reuse options [WCAX](https://www.wcax.com/2023/10/10/look-progress-decommissioning-vermont-yankee/). | | May 15, 2023 | Site Future Planning | Updates on decommissioning progress and discussions regarding the future use of the Vernon site [WCAX](https://www.wcax.com/2023/05/15/vt-yankee-decommissioning-continues-vernon-looks-future-site/). | These events reflect ongoing efforts to safely decommission the plant and plan for the site's future, alongside broader national discussions on nuclear waste management. ### Safety and Emergency Planning - **Emergency Planning Zone Details**: During operation, Vermont Yankee maintained a 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ) covering parts of Vermont, [[New Hampshire]], and Massachusetts. Although decommissioned, certain emergency protocols remain in place due to on-site spent fuel storage. - **Notable Safety Features or Upgrades**: The plant underwent safety upgrades during its operational years, including post-9/11 security enhancements and improvements to containment systems following the Fukushima disaster. Decommissioning safety focuses on radiological controls and spent fuel management. - **Historical Safety Incidents**: A significant incident occurred in 2010 when tritium leaks were detected in groundwater near the plant, prompting public concern and enhanced monitoring. No major accidents or releases affecting public health were reported during its operation [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant). ### Decommissioning Status - **Shutdown Date and Reason**: Ceased operations on December 29, 2014, primarily due to economic unviability caused by low natural gas prices and high maintenance costs. - **Decommissioning Method and Timeline**: Utilizing the DECON method (immediate dismantlement), with major activities targeted for completion by 2030, significantly earlier than initially planned under Entergy’s SAFSTOR approach. As of September 2025, deconstruction of major buildings is nearing completion. - **Spent Fuel Storage Status**: Spent nuclear fuel is stored on-site in dry casks within an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI), pending a federal repository solution. Discussions on nuclear waste storage continue to impact the site’s long-term status. - **Site Reuse Potential**: Efforts are underway to identify future uses for the Vernon site, potentially for renewable energy projects or industrial development, supported by NorthStar and local stakeholders [WAMC](https://www.wamc.org/news/2025-09-29/deconstruction-of-vermont-yankee-nuclear-power-plant-buildings-nearing-completion), [WCAX](https://www.wcax.com/2023/10/10/look-progress-decommissioning-vermont-yankee/). ### New Hampshire Relevance Vermont Yankee holds significant relevance to New Hampshire due to its geographic proximity and historical grid interconnections. Located just across the Connecticut River from New Hampshire, the plant’s 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone included parts of Cheshire County, NH, during its operational years. It supplied substantial power to the ISO New England (ISO-NE) grid, benefiting New Hampshire consumers as part of the regional energy mix; at its peak, it provided up to 35% of Vermont’s electricity, much of which supported the broader New England grid. The decommissioning of Vermont Yankee offers lessons for New Hampshire’s nuclear policy, particularly regarding [[Seabrook Station]], the state’s only operating nuclear plant. Vermont Yankee’s closure due to economic pressures highlights the challenges facing aging nuclear infrastructure in a competitive energy market, a concern for Seabrook as it approaches potential license renewal discussions (current license expires in 2030, with a renewal application pending to extend to 2050). Additionally, Vermont Yankee’s spent fuel storage challenges underscore the need for federal action on waste disposal, an issue directly relevant to Seabrook’s long-term operations. Finally, as New Hampshire explores small modular reactor (SMR) deployment, Vermont Yankee’s accelerated decommissioning timeline and site reuse planning could serve as a model for managing nuclear site transitions, though public and political opposition in Vermont suggests caution in navigating similar projects in New Hampshire [NRC.gov](https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/decommissioning/power-reactor/vermont-yankee). ### Competitive Position Compared to other nuclear plants in the New England region, Vermont Yankee’s historical output of 620 MWe was significant but smaller than Seabrook Station (1,244 MWe) in New Hampshire and [[Millstone Power Station]] (over 2,000 MWe combined for two units) in Connecticut. During its operation, Vermont Yankee was a reliable baseload power source, contributing 71.8% of Vermont’s electricity in 2008. However, its age (commissioned in 1972) and single-unit design led to higher operating costs compared to newer or multi-unit plants like Millstone. The economic challenges that led to its closure in 2014 were similar to those faced by other regional plants, such as [[Pilgrim]] Nuclear Power Station in Massachusetts (closed in 2019), though Seabrook and Millstone have sustained operations through market adjustments and state support. Vermont Yankee’s decommissioning status now removes it from competitive analysis, but its history underscores the vulnerability of older nuclear plants to market dynamics in the region [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Yankee_Nuclear_Power_Plant). ### Closing Note Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station, now in advanced stages of decommissioning, remains a significant case study in nuclear plant closures and site restoration within the New England energy landscape. *Report generated December 24, 2025*