Electric Utility Tackles Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Problem

Abstract

Many utilities with nuclear power plants will be watching carefully as Virginia Electric & Power Co. (Vepco) struggles with its problem of spent-fuel storage. Vepco, of course, is not the only nuclear-based utility running short of storage space for its spent nuclear fuel. At Vepco, however, some highly critical dates are approaching more rapidly than they are at other companies. The company might have to shut down some of its reactors as early as next year if it can't find additional storage space for its spent fuel. However, the company has a plan to provide the storage space that it needs. And, depending on how successful that plan proves to be, it could become something of a blueprint for other utilities facing the same problem. What could make Vepco all the more of a trailblazer is that its plan calls for, among other things, dry storage of spent-fuel assemblies. Vepco is the first utility in ...