Mark your calendars, the next iBrattleboro Field Trip is scheduled for Friday, February 27 at 1pm. Where are we going? To take a tour of the training simulator for operators at Vermont Yankee. We'll see an exact duplicate of what the control room looks like and discuss how the operators are trained to handle normal and emergency situations. Because the simulator is small, we have a limit of 15 people, so we ask that you RSVP by sending an e-mail to info@ibrattleboro.com if you plan to attend. I'll post an announcement here when we reach the 15-person limit.
This is our first educational trip and we have a few rules if you plan to attend. While you are free to ask any questions you think of, we'd like the tour atmosphere to be objective. Let's hash out the emotional arguments here on the iBrattleboro site, before and after, so everyone on the tour has a chance to experience this from their own perspective. In other words, no hijacking the field trip for soapboxing. But we'd like you to come if you are curious, have questions, and want to learn something new.
We went through a few hoops to set this up, especially given the charged atmosphere in town regarding nuclear power. If we can be somewhat sensitive to the public relations risk VY is incurring by allowing us to visit, it might lead to a greater understanding on both sides down the road. It will also pave the way for us to schedule more field trips to interesting places in the future. Remember, regardless of your views, the staff at VY is very interested in sharing with you how energy is produced and how you as a consumer affect this. Please send an e-mail to me at info@ibrattleboro.com and I'll put you on the list. First come, first serve. If you sign up and find that you can't attend, please let us know so someone else can come in your place.
Again, this visit will be on Friday, February 27 at 1pm. The Training building (and control room simulator) is located on Old Ferry Road. Drive north out of Brattleboro on Putney Road and before you cross the I-91 bridge hang a right. Proceed about a half-mile East until you see the Entergy Vermont Yankee corporate headquarters. Please park in the lot on your right as you approach the building. Then enter the building on the lower level where the glass atrium is located. Someone will be there to greet you. Be prompt.