Last month, Governor Scott made a subtle mention of plans to explore a new nuclear energy production in a discreet article on social networks which has so far drawn little attention from the public and the legislators.
In the post of March 21 on X, Scott expressed familiar discussion points: the Vermont and the prices of the electricity of New England are “far too high” and the way of establishing a low carbon energy portfolio is long. But, in the thread, Scott presented a new idea that he explored with other governors of New England – a new nuclear technology called Small Modular Reactors.
Reactors are smaller nuclear installations and easier to assemble that are slowly win international interestEspecially since President Donald Trump pursues policies that would renewable Sources and Canadian hydroelectricity more expensive. Consideration is another facet of the thrust of the Governor of Vermont so that the state included nuclear in its long -term transition of fossil fuels.
Discussions with other states are hardly more than an early stage at this stage, on the question of whether technology would be a viable way to meet the energy needs of New England without transmitting finishing costs to consumers, said Kerrick Johnson, commissioner of the Vermont public service department. Considerations are still so preliminary, he described them as “pre-initial” conversations.
“The idea was that, being aware of the concerns for greenhouse gas emissions, what is an affordable way that widens our options to continue to achieve our climatic objectives while achieving affordability?” Said Johnson.
A number of important obstacles prevent these conversations from becoming something concrete.
To start, the Vermont renewable energies standard need The majority of state public services to obtain 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and all public services to do so by 2035. But the law explicitly Nuclear fuel for its definition of renewable energies. The Scott administration hopes to change this framework into the one who includes nuclear energy, as indicated in an omnibus climate bill Presented in February, but the bill has so far experienced little traction in the legislature led by the Democrats.
Another big obstacle: technology is still in its infancy. Currently, only two small operational modular reactors exist worldwide, and although many sites in the United States intend to bring more online during the next decade, supply chains to build installations on a wider (and profitable), profitable scale) Just don’t exist yet.
However, the threat of prices of the Trump administration and what it has already done to “fundamentally undermine the United States’s relationship with Canada led New England to seek energy elsewhere,” said Johnson. About half Renewable energy purchased or generated by the public services of Vermont is hydroelectricity, and most come from Hydroquebec.
In addition to that, the offshore wind, which many public distribution services consider a key source of renewable energy, “is now outside the table”, while the Trump administration stops and reveals permits for technology, said Johnson.
“When you remove logical and aligned resources on politics – this is where we are currently – where are you looking for resources to keep the lights on?” Said Johnson. Thus, the thought of small nuclear reactors has become more inviting.
‘Like Legos’
Interest in small modular reactors is a tendencyThe one that defenders see as helping to meet Global growing energy demand And the huge Electricity requirements for AI data centersNot to mention the fossil fuels.
The installations are smaller than traditional nuclear reactors – producing about 300 megawatts energy. A conventional nuclear reactor produced between 700 and 1,200 megawatts. THE Vermont Yankee The Vernon reactor produced 650 megawatts before disconnecting and starting the downgrading process, and the Seabrook power plant in New Hampshire, where vermont Buy about 18% of its energyproduces more than 1,200 megawatts. Small units must refuel every 3 to 7 years, rather than every 1 to 2 years like conventional plants.
The risk for the surrounding communities in the event of an accident is also lower than the risk of the largest reactors, said Kororh ShirvanProfessor of energy studies specializing in small modular reactors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The quantity of power produced is “proportional to the amount of radioactive materials that may come out,” he said.
According to an explanator, Published by the International Energy Agency.
And, as its name also suggests, these are modular units, made of prefabricated parts which can be assembled on the site, which should make their construction easier and cheaper in the long term. “Like Legos,” said Shirvan.
The developers are testing a similar modular approach to building large nuclear facilities in the United States, said Shirvan, but the high initial costs for larger projects – as well as security risks – arouse more interest in smaller models.
Shirvan said he considered the smallest reactors as a precious complement to renewable energies, such as wind and solar energy, in a larger and low carbon energy plan.
“The problem with New England, of course, is (that) we don’t have much sun, and we are a bit limited,” he said. With the increase in nuclear generation, even on a small scale, “you reach all your renewable and clean energy goals in a very short time.”
The law on inflation reduction 2022 Nuclear generation recognized as an ones Sources such as wind and solar energy for eligibility for tax credit.
“The real question is: will states do it too?” Shrivan said tax credits. “Will states bring (nuclear subsidies) at the same level as renewable energies such as the federal government? Because when you do this, in the event of (the) northeast where the prices of electricity are high and the objectives of decarbonization continue to be pursued, this is where you would see nuclear projects appear, just as it did decades ago. This state support must be done. “
Meanwhile, the Trump administration adopts the expansion of small modular reactors as part of its broader program of “restoration of the domination of American energy”. A few days after the publication of Scott’s social media, the American Department of Energy opened $ 900 million in grant For the commercial deployment of small modular reactors.
For the moment, Vermont is still in its exploratory phase.
Scott and governors from other New England states have requested in collaboration the funding of the National Governors’ Association to explore the financial details necessary to place small nuclear reactors through New England. Johnson said states should learn in April if the funds will be awarded.
The region will continue to explore technology, with or without the grant, according to Johnson. “Whether or not we guarantee technical assistance through the NGA, these discussions will be advanced,” he said.
In particular, Johnson said he was trying to answer questions about how the state could improve the elimination of nuclear waste if technology finally arrives at Vermont.
“These are slightly registered discussions, and there is a long way to go before there is a real project,” said Johnson. “But we will not do Vermonters service if we do not start to explore the options to maintain the reliability and affordability of the system.”