The Texas-based company PowerTransitions has announced that it will not build a data center on the site of the former Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon. During a recent community meeting, Carrie Hitt, the company’s head of external affairs, expressed understanding of community preferences, stating, “We have no intent to develop one [a data center].” Instead, PowerTransitions is now focused on developing a large battery storage facility, aiming for a capacity between 110 to 440 MW, significantly higher than existing local facilities.
Hitt emphasized the importance of community involvement in the project, saying that they do not plan to seek siting approval from the state without local consensus. Currently, the property is owned by NorthStar Services, which has been decommissioning the nuclear reactor since 2019.
Concerns were raised at the meeting about the safety of the proposed battery facility in proximity to high-level nuclear waste stored on-site. A fire protection engineer addressed fire safety, assuring attendees that advancements have improved battery technology and safety measures.
PowerTransitions anticipates employing fewer than a dozen full-time workers for the battery facility and plans to use about 15 acres of the site. If approved, construction could begin in three to five years.
