I grew up in the fall out zone of both Vermont Yankee and Yankee Rowe. Ironically, the bigger danger to us elementary school kids in the valley was the hydro plant up stream (which was reportedly very close to failing during Irene).
Many people lived in the hilltowns without real jobs. They somehow made a living protesting Yankee Rowe. When they were successful in getting it shut down, they turned their efforts on trying to prevent the waste from being removed from the site.
Prior to decommissioning, our side of the county went through a project of rebuilding the elementary schools. The wheels were in motion by the time the plant was closed. The impact? The new elementary schools are largely sitting half empty. The strings attached to the construction funds resulted in the towns deciding to keep operating the half empty schools, as they'd be on the hook for the bonds if they attempted to close and consolidate. As a result of that, property taxes in some of the smaller towns escalated. One good friend of mine had to continue to run her farm into her 80s, as it was the only way she could pay her property taxes. And for what it's worth, the area is lined with high tension lines which, though unsightly, haven't ruined the beauty nor scared away tourists. Ironically, the thing that deflated local tourism at the time was the construction of interstate highways and how they avoided the region.
We also have reports of New Hampshire's grid being overtaxed in the past year, to the point in which rolling blackouts almost occurred. We also have reports that part of the ridiculous new solution, a taxpayer funded wind farm near Plymouth with proceedings being sent to a Spanish companies, isn't even feeding the grid (but is getting tax credit for spinning the turbines anyway).
A few new modern nuclear plants in remote areas would be an interesting solution. Instead, we're shutting down what plants we have left and are permanently scarring our mountaintops for 20 to 25 years of minimal energy production that wouldn't be remotely economical if not for funneling our tax dollars to foreign entities.
By the way, according to reputable source Wikipedia, Vermont Yankee's annual energy generation is 4,703 GW hours. The Groton wind farm high-end estimate? 158 GW hours. So, if we were to try to replace Vermont Yankee with wind, we'd need to build 704 more mountaintop Spanish turbines to Groton specs and hope they're generating power round the clock. Or maybe use some more coal.
Many people lived in the hilltowns without real jobs. They somehow made a living protesting Yankee Rowe. When they were successful in getting it shut down, they turned their efforts on trying to prevent the waste from being removed from the site.
Prior to decommissioning, our side of the county went through a project of rebuilding the elementary schools. The wheels were in motion by the time the plant was closed. The impact? The new elementary schools are largely sitting half empty. The strings attached to the construction funds resulted in the towns deciding to keep operating the half empty schools, as they'd be on the hook for the bonds if they attempted to close and consolidate. As a result of that, property taxes in some of the smaller towns escalated. One good friend of mine had to continue to run her farm into her 80s, as it was the only way she could pay her property taxes. And for what it's worth, the area is lined with high tension lines which, though unsightly, haven't ruined the beauty nor scared away tourists. Ironically, the thing that deflated local tourism at the time was the construction of interstate highways and how they avoided the region.
We also have reports of New Hampshire's grid being overtaxed in the past year, to the point in which rolling blackouts almost occurred. We also have reports that part of the ridiculous new solution, a taxpayer funded wind farm near Plymouth with proceedings being sent to a Spanish companies, isn't even feeding the grid (but is getting tax credit for spinning the turbines anyway).
A few new modern nuclear plants in remote areas would be an interesting solution. Instead, we're shutting down what plants we have left and are permanently scarring our mountaintops for 20 to 25 years of minimal energy production that wouldn't be remotely economical if not for funneling our tax dollars to foreign entities.
By the way, according to reputable source Wikipedia, Vermont Yankee's annual energy generation is 4,703 GW hours. The Groton wind farm high-end estimate? 158 GW hours. So, if we were to try to replace Vermont Yankee with wind, we'd need to build 704 more mountaintop Spanish turbines to Groton specs and hope they're generating power round the clock. Or maybe use some more coal.
Depressing, but not hopeless.
