nuclear-news

Minnesota to repeal ban on nuclear energy

Amy Koch aimed at repealing the 17-year-old ban on licensing nuclear energy plants in Minnesota……..

“In the midst of an economic recession, is it appropriate for Minnesota lawmakers to create a path that would most likely lead to ratepayers bearing the risks of new nuclear reactors ?”

Koch’s Nuclear Moratorium Repeal Passes in House – St. Michael, MN Patch, 18 Feb 2011, By Mike Schoemer Koch’s Nuclear Moratorium Repeal Passes in House Just two weeks after it received the bill from the Senate, the House sent a message with a bipartisan vote that nuclear energy should be on the table

After receiving the bill from the State Senate just two weeks ago, the Minnesota State House approved S.F. 4, a bill written by St. Michael-Albertville area Sen. Amy Koch aimed at repealing the 17-year-old ban on licensing nuclear energy plants in Minnesota. The companion House bill was H.F. 9, which was authored by Rogers area legislator Rep. Joyce Peppin and co-authored by District 19B’s Rep. Joe McDonald, who represents St. Michael-Albertville.

The bill, which was introduced in the Senate in January and approved by a wide margin in that chamber Feb. 3, will get an amendment review in the Senate before it presumably passes again and goes to Gov. Mark Dayton, where he may choose to sign it into law or veto it.

The bill passed in the House Thursday night.

“It’s time to allow clean, affordable and reliable new nuclear power plants to be considered when we look at how Minnesota’s future energy needs will be met,” Koch said……..
Opponents argued there isn’t a huge need for baseload in Minnesota to date, and none of the power companies in Minnesota have expressed interest in building a plant.

Dr. Arjun (ARE-juhn) Makhijani (MOCK-hah-jon-ee) testified in the Senate, questioning the cost of a new plant.

“In the midst of an economic recession, is it appropriate for Minnesota lawmakers to create a path that would most likely lead to ratepayers bearing the risks of new nuclear reactors – if any should be proposed?” he asked, in a written statement.

Koch’s Nuclear Moratorium Repeal Passes in House – St. Michael, MN Patch

February 19, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA