A September 6 report from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) suggests that the pending closure of the 604 MW base-load Vermont Yankee nuclear plant in New England “will likely affect both natural gas and electricity markets throughout the region.” Black and Veatch notes that “the merchant plant’s operator announced on August 27 that it would cease operations in 2014, largely for economic reasons. Since 2007, the plant has generated about 4% of total annual electricity supply in New England. At the same time, New England has significantly increased its reliance on natural gas as a power plant fuel.”
Including Vermont Yankee, New England expects to see more than 1,369 MW of generation retired between 2013 and 2016. About half of the new additions are gas-fired and 34% are wind. Imports from Quebec are on the rise. Much of the above information is gleaned from the Black & Veatch Energy Capital Markets Report of September 24, 2103.