Nuclear power inclusion as an optional resource in a utility's integrated resource plan requirement provision and state application for nuclear-powered electric generating plants requirement provision

A bill for an act

relating to energy; requiring the inclusion of nuclear power as an optional resource

in a utility's integrated resource plan; requiring the state to apply for federal funding

related to nuclear-powered electric generating plants; amending Minnesota Statutes

2024, section 216B.2422, subdivision 2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota

Statutes, chapter 216C.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 216B.2422, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Resource plan filing and approval.

(a) A utility shall file a resource plan with

the commission periodically in accordance with rules adopted by the commission. The

commission shall approve, reject, or modify the plan of a public utility, as defined in section

216B.02, subdivision 4
, consistent with the public interest.

(b) In the resource plan proceedings of all other utilities, the commission's order shall

be advisory and the order's findings and conclusions shall constitute prima facie evidence

which may be rebutted by substantial evidence in all other proceedings. With respect to

utilities other than those defined in section
216B.02, subdivision 4
, the commission shall

consider the filing requirements and decisions in any comparable proceedings in another

jurisdiction.

(c) As a part of its resource plan filing, a utility shall include the least cost plan for

meeting 50 and 75 percent of all energy needs from both new and refurbished generating

facilities through a combination of conservation and renewable energy resources.

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(d) Notwithstanding section 216B.243, subdivision 3b, paragraph (a), a utility that

provides electric service may include the deployment of nuclear-powered electric generating

plants in the utility's resource plan filing. If a nuclear-powered electric generating plant is

not selected as a preferred resource, the utility must present the reasons why the utility made

that determination.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment and

applies to integrated resource plans filed after September 1, 2026.

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Sec. 2.

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[216C.395] APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL FUNDING; NUCLEAR POWER;

REPORTS.

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(a) The department must monitor federal funding opportunities related to nuclear-powered

electric generating plants and must apply for all projects for which Minnesota is eligible.

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(b) No later than February 1, 2027, and by February 1 each year thereafter, the department

must submit a written report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative

committees with jurisdiction over energy finance and policy documenting each application

filed under paragraph (a) and the results of each application. For all projects for which the

department did not submit an application, the department must include the reason why the

department determined that Minnesota is an ineligible applicant.

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EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This section is effective the day following final enactment.

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