Bill Would End Nuclear Power Moratorium

By Joseph Gerth, Courier-journal.com
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A Senate committee passed a bill yesterday that could open the door to construction of nuclear power plants in Kentucky.Senate Bill 13 would rescind a 1984 state law that placed a moratorium on the construction of nuclear power plants until the federal government determines how to safely dispose of high-level nuclear waste.
Sen. Bob Leeper, a Paducah independent, told the committee that his legislation would allow the state to begin talking about nuclear power as an option. But, he said, the Public Service Commission could be expected to block construction of such a plant until a long-term storage option is found.
SB 13 passed the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee 7-1.
Hank List, deputy secretary of the Energy and Environment Cabinet, said Gov. Steve Beshear's administration favors the legislation because the state should consider nuclear power as a way to deal with future energy demands.
The bill, he said, would "create a spirit of an open-minded discussion."
As the law now stands, List said, it prevents the Public Service Commission from even considering a nuclear plant until the federal government determines how to deal with nuclear waste. Leeper's bill would allow the state to begin considering nuclear power and thus be in a position to move forward once a long-term storage solution is found, List said.
Leeper and Tom FitzGerald, executive director of the Kentucky Resources Council, an environmental advocacy group, said it would take at least 10 years for a nuclear power plant to be approved and built.
Nonetheless, FitzGerald argued that the bill be deferred until the federal government resolves the problem of storing nuclear waste.
A federal repository for nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada was supposed to open 10 years ago but it still hasn't accepted any waste because of court challenges and other delays.
Jim Gooch, the Providence Democrat who is chairman of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee, said he doesn't know if he will call the bill for a vote if it passes the full Senate.
"I think nuclear energy is going to have to be part of the nation's energy plan, but I'm just not certain it's going to be needed in Kentucky," he said. "But I'm open to taking a look at it."
Reporter Joseph Gerth can be reached at (502) 582-4702.