Advanced nuclear commission

AN ACT Relating to creating the commercial liftoff for energy 1
from advanced nuclear advisory commission; and adding a new chapter 2
to Title 80 RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that nuclear energy 5
is a safe and reliable source of nonemitting energy and that all 6
electricity provided to Washington retail electric customers must be 7
from nonemitting or renewable resources by January 1, 2045. The 8
legislature finds that decarbonization policies and artificial 9
intelligence applications have accelerated demand on Washington's 10
electricity grid. Nuclear energy provides significant value to a 11
decarbonized grid; it is a clean firm complement to renewable 12
resources, has low land-use requirements while producing energy at 13
scale, and offers high-paying jobs and regional economic benefits. 14
Therefore, the legislature finds that nuclear energy will play an 15
essential role in the energy transition. 16
It is the intent of the legislature that a new nuclear energy 17
advisory commission shall provide a credible resource on nuclear 18
energy to the people of the state of Washington and support the 19
growth of the nuclear energy industry. The commercial liftoff for 20
energy from advanced nuclear advisory commission aims to establish a 21
H-0382.1
HOUSE BILL 1249
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Barnard, Stearns, Couture, Rude, and Keaton
Prefiled 01/10/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Environment & Energy.
p. 1 HB 1249
common fact base with the private sector around the path to liftoff 1
for critical clean firm energy technologies. 2
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. There is hereby created the commercial 3
liftoff for energy from advanced nuclear advisory commission. The 4
purpose of the commercial liftoff for energy from advanced nuclear 5
advisory commission is to catalyze more rapid and coordinated action 6
across the value chain for nuclear energy deployment. The commercial 7
liftoff for energy from advanced nuclear advisory commission is 8
composed of 13 voting members with expertise in nuclear energy. 9
Members must be nominated and appointed by the leadership of the 10
entities that they represent as follows:11
(1) Two members from Washington State University with at least 12
one member from the institute for northwest energy futures;13
(2) One member from the University of Washington;14
(3) One member invited from the Pacific Northwest national 15
laboratory; 16
(4) One member invited from the United States department of 17
energy; 18
(5) One member representing a joint operating agency as described 19
in chapter 43.52 RCW and formed in 1957; 20
(6) One member from the state radiation control agency as defined 21
in RCW 70A.388.040; 22
(7) One member invited from a federally recognized tribe and 23
nominated and appointed by the governor's office of Indian affairs;24
(8) One member from the Washington vertical innovation cluster;25
(9) One member from the state energy office in the department of 26
commerce; 27
(10) One member from the governor's office; 28
(11) One member from the association of Washington business; and29
(12) One member from the Washington state labor council.30
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The commercial liftoff for energy from 31
advanced nuclear advisory commission may:32
(1) Establish offices that are necessary to carry out the purpose 33
of the commission as described in section 2 of this act, including 34
prescribing the functions and duties of such offices and developing 35
policies and procedures; 36
(2) Appoint or provide for the appointment of, and remove or 37
provide for the removal of, employees of the commission;38
p. 2 HB 1249
(3) Fix the salaries, wages, and other compensation of employees 1
of the commission; 2
(4) Fix the time and place or places at which regular or special 3
meetings are to be held. Each member of the commission is eligible to 4
be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 5
and 43.03.060; and 6
(5) Solicit and receive gifts, grants, and endowments from public 7
or private sources that are made for the use or benefit of the 8
commission and to expend the same or any income therefrom according 9
to the purpose of the commission. 10
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The duties of the commercial liftoff for 11
energy from advanced nuclear advisory commission are as follows:12
(1) Meet at least five times a year in accordance with chapter 13
42.30 RCW to consider existing and model policies and plans to 14
support the deployment of additional nuclear energy in the state. 15
Considerations must include workforce needs; 16
(2) Develop recommendations on what is needed to site and build 17
additional nuclear facilities in the state, including a detailed 18
roadmap with timelines and targets; 19
(3) Submit recommendations to the governor and the appropriate 20
committees of the legislature by October 1st every even-numbered 21
year; 22
(4) Review the United States department of energy pathways to 23
commercial liftoff: Advanced nuclear report as of September 2024 for 24
consideration in recommendations submitted according to subsection 25
(3) of this section for the commission's first recommendation report 26
due on October 1, 2026. 27
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Sections 1 through 4 of this act 28
constitute a new chapter in Title 80 RCW.29
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