Vermont’s Pressing Energy Needs

Vermont faces serious energy challenges in the coming years. The sooner that we begin to deal with them, the better able we will be to keep the character of the Green Mountain State intact. If we fail to address these matters, our energy supply and energy future could literally fall off a cliff, as the graph below illustrates.

According to the Vermont Department of Public Service*, energy consumption is expected to grow at one percent annually. If the Vermont Yankee facility is not re-licensed in 2012, the state would immediately lose one-third of its electricity. This is reliable, clean, base-load power that has served the state since 1972.

Base-load power is steady, consistent power. It is generated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and provides the core foundation to meet the state’s basic energy needs.

Beginning in 2015, the state could also lose the one-third of its power supply provided by Hydro Quebec. Canada’s own rising demand for energy and other factors could cause the country to withhold this power source for its own domestic consumption.

Rising energy demand is fueled by many factors. This includes growth in the population and commerce, more use of energy intensive appliances, central air conditioning, and the expansion of high technology. While there are plans to purchase several dams along the Connecticut River, this will not significantly help the potential dramatic loss of Vermont’s base-load power supply in the next decade. To ensure that Vermont has a bright energy future we must protect and maintain the reliable sources of power we have now and look for ways to cleanly and efficiently increase production in the coming years before we lose the majority of our supply sources for the state.

*Chart Source: Vermont Department of Public Service. Please note that the chart should show a complete, sharp drop off in 2012 based on the expiration date of the current Nuclear Regulatory Commission license of Vermont Yankee.