NRC Approves Vermont Yankee Trust Access Exemption

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved exemptions late last week that enable Vermont Yankee to tap into its decommissioning trust fund to pay for spent fuel management costs. Entergy, the site operator, sought the exemption to help pay for activities related to moving spent fuel to dry cask storage, including the construction of a second Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation pad. Entergy plans to complete the transfer of spent fuel by 2020 at a cost of $145 to 175 million, a third of the total spent fuel management estimate the company submitted late last year. Vermont officials, though, have opposed the use of the decommissioning trust fund to pay for spent fuel management, mainly due to its ability to drain the fund. Entergy has entered into an agreement with the state that it would begin decommissioning once its trust fund accrues enough interest to cover the costs. Entergy has also opened a $145 million line of credit to help pay for spent fuel costs.