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Replacing Vermont Yankee with
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Leaving Dirty, Dangerous Power in the Past
They say a picture's worth a thousand words. Is dirty dangerous energy worth the risk?
On August 21, one of Vermont Yankee’s two cooling towers collapsed. Just a few days later, the plant was forced to initiate an emergency shut-down after several steam valves malfunctioned simultaneously.
Both failures are even more shocking because they come on the heels of state and federal regulators giving Vermont Yankee a clean bill of health to operate at 120% of its designed capacity.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Entergy Nuclear, the Louisiana-based corporation that owns Yankee was quick to downplay both accidents, referring to the cooling tower collapse as just “deformation in some of the wood.” The company also continues to disingenuously push their claim that the 35 year old plant is running like new.
Read our press release on the cooling tower collapse click here. To read recent news coverage click here.
Several examples that highlight the need for VY’s closure:
VY has 76 documented cracks in its steam dryer
There have been 3 fires in VY’s transformer station. One fire resulted in the loss of a critical reactor-cooling pump
Entergy has already been found in violation of the Clean Water Act because it is heating the temperature of the Connecticut river several degrees in winter, threatening native fish and other wildlife.
VY’s storage system for radioactive waste fuel is dangerously overcrowded. Because there is no viable waste storage solution, Entergy will be indefinitely storing its radioactive waste on the banks of the Connecticut River
Choosing a Clean and Safe Energy Future
Our over-reliance on Vermont Yankee is used as a crutch to prevent our investment in cleaner, safer forms of energy like wind, solar and biomass. Gaining a commitment to shut this plant down is, we believe, a prerequisite to serious conversation about a renewable energy economy.
We can more than replace Yankee with clean, local power. In fact, we could be getting over 50% of our electricity from Vermont's farms, forests and other natural resources in the next 10 years. To find out how read VPIRG's report A Decade of Change.
Safe Power Vermont
Due to VPIRG's past advocacy, the legislature must vote by 2010 on whether Vermont Yankee will be allowed to operate after 2012. The law guaranteeing this is called Act 160. This vote will be our best opportunity to shut the plant down once and for all, and begin replacing its power with clean, safe and affordable alternatives like renewables and efficiency. Together with our partners and allies around the state and across the region, we're committed to making this vote a vote that retires Vermont Yankee and chooses a clean energy future for Vermont!
Safe Power Vermont is a coalition of experienced citizen, environmental, legal and nuclear replacement organizations working to: close Vermont Yankee, replace it with clean, safe and renewable energy solutions, and put the energy future of Vermont in the hands of its citizens.
Members: VPIRG, Toxics Action Center, Nuclear Free Vermont, Citizens Awareness Network (CAN), Vt Sierra Club
Take Action Now!
Together, we can close Vermont Yankee and replace it with safer, cleaner sourcs of energy for Vermont's clean energy future. Every voice counts and you can make a difference. Here’s how:
Be part of the solution!
Sign the petition to close VY and join the grassroots effort being organized by VPIRG and Safe Power Vermont
Make your voice heard:
You can help by contacting your community leaders and legislators. and asking them to take action to stop global warming.
Write a Letter to the Editor:
VPIRG can help you write a letter, email or opinion editorial for your local newspaper. We can also offer tips for making sure your letter gets printed.