Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee has announced that it will begin transferring spent nuclear fuel two years ahead of schedule.
The company says it wants to start moving the fuel into dry cask storage in 2017, and have everything completed by the end of 2020.
The transfer is the first step in the decommissioning process. Vermont Yankee closed in December 2014.
Chris Wamser, the plant's site vice president, says Entergy plans to fund the $145 million project instead of using money from the plant's decommissioning trust fund. Costs include the construction of a second storage pad, where some of the fuel will be placed.
Vermont Yankee hopes to receive a certificate of public good from the state Public Service Board next year and complete construction of the second pad in 2017.
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