Nuclear-powered electric generating facilities in Minnesota potential evaluation study appropriation

A bill for an act

relating to energy; appropriating money for a study evaluating the potential to

construct nuclear-powered electric generating facilities in Minnesota.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.
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NUCLEAR ENERGY STUDY; APPROPRIATION.
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(a) Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, paragraph (j),

$....... in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the renewable development account under

Minnesota Statutes, section 116C.779, subdivision 1, to the Public Utilities Commission to

contract with the Great Plains Institute to conduct a study evaluating the factors affecting

the future construction of nuclear-powered electric generating facilities in Minnesota. The

study must be completed no later than June 30, 2027, and must, at a minimum, analyze:

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(1) changes in federal regulations governing the licensing of nuclear-powered facilities

that may expedite the review and approval process;

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(2) technological advances made with respect to conventional nuclear-powered facilities

that affect safety and cost;

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(3) the prospects for factory-built, portable small modular reactors with a capacity of

up to 300 megawatts, including:

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(i) the type of technology available;

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(ii) current licensing status; and

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(iii) estimated costs;

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(4) siting issues, including:

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(i) the degree to which the requirement for proximity to water resources sufficient to

meet cooling needs restricts possible locations of nuclear facilities, including a list of

locations in Minnesota that currently meet cooling needs;

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(ii) the potential for colocating nuclear facilities with businesses that demand very large

amounts of electricity;

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(iii) the environmental impacts of nuclear facilities, including impacts on the health of

nearby residents;

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(iv) the prospects for host communities to accept nuclear facilities and best practices to

engage communities regarding siting for nuclear facilities; and

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(v) how interconnection and transmission issues affect potential plant locations.

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(5) nuclear waste issues, including:

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(i) the amount and toxicity of radioactive waste produced by both conventional nuclear

technologies and small modular reactors;

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(ii) the costs of on-site storage;

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(iii) the prospects for developing permanent radioactive waste storage at either a federally

owned or privately owned repository to which Minnesota's waste could be transported; and

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(iv) the feasibility and cost of reprocessing nuclear waste;

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(6) the economic impacts of various nuclear technologies on a host community, including:

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(i) increased employment levels during construction and operations;

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(ii) increased local economic activity resulting from purchases made by the

nuclear-powered facility and the facility's employees; and

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(iii) potential tax revenue to local communities, schools, and the state; and

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(7) impacts of new nuclear-powered electric generating plants on public safety officials

and emergency responders in host communities and adjacent areas with respect to emergency

planning efforts.

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(b) No later than February 1, 2027, the commission must submit the study to the chairs

and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over energy

finance and policy.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment.

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