Shake, rattle, and roll of the dice

posted April 14, 2006

State and federal regulators are looking more like Keystone Cops than public servants these days when it comes to keeping close tabs on the power boost at Vermont Yankee (VY).

For the second time in less than a month, Vermont Yankee officials have put on hold the planned 20 percent power boost because a key component is under strain — a component that forced a similar reactor in Illinois to go offline and was eventually replaced.

Since March 4, Vermont Yankee has completed three power increases for a total output of 12.5 percent out of a planned 20 percent boost, but there are signs that the reactor is showing its age.

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