Nukes on the Table? Bills in MN Legislature Would Lift Ban on New Nuclear Power Plants

Hearings of the Legislative Energy Commission are set for March 25 and 26 to discuss proposals to drop the current moratorium on new nuclear power plants, in place for over a decade. With over a dozen bills introduced in the Minnesota House and Senate by legislators from both major parties, the discussion is clearly open on the future of nuclear power in the state. The first hearing is open to the public, but not public comment. An unreleased list of experts will testify. The hearing on the 26th will accept public comment.

Minnesota has two nuclear power plants, one upstream and one downstream of the Twin Cities on the Mississippi River. The Monticello nuclear plant is older, located in Monticello, MN near St. Cloud. The Prairie Island plant is south of the Cities near Redwing, MN and adjoins the Prairie Island Mdewakanton Dakota Community.

Mary Sandok, spokesperson for Xcel Energy says they are not behind the bills. “We’re not actively pushing it, but we are supportive.” She emphasizes that the bill would merely allow a new nuclear power proposal to be considered by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. “It doesn’t mean a new plant would be built in Minnesota.”

Opponents of the bills say that renewable energy sources are a better investment for new electricity sources. “Nuclear power is not solution to our energy needs. It has been proven to be a costly investment which requires significant water resources and results in harmful radioactive waste,” says Dan Endresen, legislative lead for Clean Water Action. “We still have no adequate storage solutions for nuclear waste. Minnesota should invest in renewable energy, such as wind and solar, rather than decades old technology."

Hearings begin at 6:30 PM each day at room 200 of the State Office Building in St. Paul (driving and bus directions, map).