The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it had issued the order approving the transfer of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant operating license from Entergy to NorthStar.
The request for the transfer was made in order to allow NorthStar to decommission the plant that ceased operations in December 2014.
The plant is currently owned by Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee and operated by Entergy Nuclear Operations, both of which are listed on the license, the NRC said.
Entergy requested the license transfer in February 2017. The new owner will be NorthStar Vermont Yankee. The operator in charge of dismantling the plant will be NorthStar Nuclear Decommissioning Company.
The transfer includes the plant’s dry cask spent nuclear fuel storage facility.
Based on its review, the NRC confirmed that NorthStar met the regulatory, legal, technical, and financial requirements necessary to qualify them as a licensee. The NRC also determined that the transfer is consistent with law and NRC regulations, and that the transfer can be conducted without endangering the health and safety of the public and will not be inimical to the common defense and security, the NRC said in a statement.
The NRC Order approving the transfer was issued Oct. 11.