The NFRC was established in 2002 to promote the construction and operation of nuclear reprocessing facilities. NFRC promotes reprocessing commercial spent nuclear fuel that is generated by commercial nuclear power plants.

Reprocessing dramatically reduces the amount of high-level radioactive waste that would have to be stored in a geologic repository. We also support reprocessing plutonium and highly enriched uranium from nuclear warheads into fuel for use in commercial nuclear power plants.


Friday, January 20, 2012

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant Can Remain Open

Vermont Yankee
Vermont’s only nuclear plant can remain open beyond its originally scheduled shutdown date this year, despite the state’s efforts to close the 40-year-old reactor, a federal judge ruled Thursday.  The ruling by U.S. District Judge J. Garvan Murtha is a win for the Vermont Yankee plant’s owner,NewOrleans-based Entergy, which had argued that the state’s efforts were preempted by federal law.

The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted a 20-year extension to Vermont Yankee’s license in March. But state law required Vermont lawmakers to support the extension as well. A bill to grant approval was defeated 26 to 4 in the state Senate and the House has never acted.  Entergy argued that the state wanted to close the reactor out of concerns about safety, an issue that is solely the NRC’s jurisdiction.  The state said it had other reasons, including that the plant didn’t fit into its energy plan. (AP, Wash Post, 1/20/2012)

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