Texas company eyes former Vermont Yankee site for battery energy storage system – Vermont Public

Project Overview and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

A proposal has been put forward by PowerTransitions, a Texas-based energy firm, to develop a large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) on the site of the decommissioned Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station. This initiative seeks to repurpose approximately 140 acres in Vernon, Vermont, aligning with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Contribution to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Enhancing Renewable Energy Infrastructure

The proposed BESS project is a critical component in the transition towards a sustainable energy future. By providing grid-scale energy storage, the facility will support the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, thereby increasing the share of clean energy in the regional power mix, a core objective of SDG 7.

Modernizing Energy Systems

The project exemplifies the transformation of legacy energy infrastructure into modern, resilient assets. PowerTransitions’ stated mission is to acquire and redevelop retired power generation facilities into advanced energy campuses, contributing directly to the modernization goals outlined in SDG 7.

Advancing SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Redevelopment of Industrial Sites

This initiative represents a significant effort in sustainable industrial redevelopment, a key target of SDG 9. The plan involves leasing the site from its current owner, NorthStar Group Services, which is managing the decommissioning of the former nuclear plant. This repurposing of a brownfield site promotes sustainable industrialization and innovation.

Building Resilient Infrastructure

The development of a large-scale BESS contributes to building resilient infrastructure. Such systems enhance grid stability and reliability, which is essential for supporting economic development and community well-being, directly addressing the aims of SDG 9.

Addressing SDG 11 and SDG 12: Sustainable Communities and Responsible Production

Key Challenges and Considerations

The project’s implementation requires careful management of environmental and safety risks to ensure it contributes positively to a sustainable community (SDG 11) and adheres to principles of responsible production (SDG 12).

1. Management of Legacy Nuclear Waste: A primary consideration is the on-site presence of 58 dry storage casks containing high-level radioactive waste. Vermont Public Service Commissioner Kerrick Johnson has emphasized that this waste “has to be respected and avoided at all costs.”
2. Safety of Battery Technology: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has noted potential safety concerns associated with BESS technology, including risks of fire and the release of harmful gases, which pose health risks to local residents and first responders.

Stakeholder Engagement and Due Diligence

A multi-stakeholder approach is being pursued to address these challenges and ensure responsible development.

• Vermont Public Service Commission: The commission is undertaking departmental due diligence to advocate on behalf of Vermont ratepayers and has requested a meeting with PowerTransitions for further details.
• Vernon Planning Commission: The local commission has expressed interest in the project, recognizing the increasing regional demand for power, and is currently in discussions with the company.
• NorthStar Group Services: The site owner has facilitated discussions between PowerTransitions and the town of Vernon, affirming its commitment to redeveloping the site for a use preferred by the local community.

Fostering SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Collaborative Framework

The project’s progression highlights the importance of partnerships, as outlined in SDG 17. The collaboration involves a private energy developer (PowerTransitions), a specialized decommissioning and site management company (NorthStar Group Services), and state and local regulatory and planning bodies. This public-private partnership is essential for navigating the complexities of the project, from technical implementation to community engagement and regulatory approval, thereby advancing the shared goal of sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   The core of the article is about a proposal to develop a large-scale battery energy storage system. This technology is crucial for stabilizing the power grid and enabling a greater share of intermittent renewable energy sources, directly contributing to the goal of providing clean and modern energy.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   The project involves transforming a retired industrial facility (a former nuclear power plant) into a “modern, resilient energy infrastructure campus.” This represents an investment in sustainable and resilient infrastructure and the retrofitting of an old industrial site for a new, innovative purpose.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   The article discusses the redevelopment of a 140-acre site within the town of Vernon. It highlights critical aspects of community sustainability, including the safe management of hazardous waste (both the legacy nuclear waste and potential risks from the new batteries) and ensuring the safety of nearby residents.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   This goal is addressed through the focus on the environmentally sound management of waste. The article details the past removal of low-level radioactive waste and the ongoing challenge of storing high-level radioactive waste. It also brings up the EPA’s concerns about the life cycle and potential hazards of battery storage systems, emphasizing the need for responsible management of these new technologies.

5. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   The article explicitly mentions health and safety risks. These include the danger posed by the stored high-level nuclear waste, which must be “avoided at all costs,” and the potential for battery fires to release “harmful gases that pose health risks to nearby residents and first responders.” Addressing these concerns is directly linked to protecting human health from environmental and industrial hazards.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 7.a: Promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.

  The proposal by PowerTransitions to develop a large-scale battery energy storage system is a direct investment in modern energy infrastructure designed to support a cleaner energy grid.

• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

  The company’s stated goal is to transform the site into a “modern, resilient energy infrastructure campus,” which aligns perfectly with this target’s aim to build resilient infrastructure.

• Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable.

  The project is a prime example of this target, as it involves retrofitting a decommissioned nuclear power facility—an old industrial site—for a new, sustainable energy purpose.

• Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to… waste management.

  The article’s focus on the careful management of 58 dry storage casks of high-level nuclear waste and the removal of 76,000 tons of low-level waste is central to mitigating the environmental impact on the community of Vernon.

• Target 12.4: Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.

  This target is relevant to both the legacy nuclear waste, which requires long-term management, and the proposed battery system. The EPA’s concerns about battery fires and harmful gases highlight the need for sound management throughout the battery system’s life cycle to minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

• Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

  The concerns raised by the Public Service Commissioner about the high-level radioactive waste and the EPA’s warnings about harmful gases from battery systems directly address the need to prevent illness and health risks from hazardous materials and potential pollution.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Explicit Quantitative Indicators:

  • Amount of waste managed: The article states that “more than 76,000 tons of material, much of which is low-level radioactive waste,” has been removed and shipped.
  • Amount of hazardous waste stored on-site: The presence of “58 dry storage casks” of high-level radioactive waste is a key indicator of the ongoing waste management challenge.
  • Land area for redevelopment: The project proposes to develop “approximately 140 acres,” indicating the scale of the infrastructure retrofitting.

• Implied Qualitative and Quantitative Indicators:

  • Investment in clean energy infrastructure: The development of the “large-scale battery energy storage system” itself serves as an indicator. Its future capacity (in MWh) would be a specific metric.
  • Implementation of safety protocols: The “departmental due diligence” by the Public Service Commissioner and adherence to EPA safety guidelines for battery storage systems would be indicators of progress towards mitigating health risks (Target 3.9) and ensuring sound management (Target 12.4).
  • Redevelopment of a brownfield site: The successful transformation of the former Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station site into a new energy campus is a clear indicator of progress towards Target 9.4.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: vermontpublic.org