Two bills in the Iowa General Assembly would promote the
development of nuclear plants in the state and allow utilities to charge
ratepayers for their construction before project completion.
As the legislative process begins to wind down for the
session, Iowapolitics.com indicates HSB 124 is likely to be among the bills up
for final consideration before the legislature. A similar bill, SSB1144, is
working its way through the Senate.
The House bill emphasizes the desire of legislators to attract
more nuclear development to the state. It would modify utility regulations to
allow power producers to factor the costs of licensing a proposed nuclear plant
into their rates.
“It is also the intent of the General Assembly to encourage
the prudent development of baseload nuclear electric power generation. Nuclear
generation has a long-term proven record of providing a safe, reliable, and
secure source of electricity in the United States and offers the potential for
significant job creation, substantial economic development benefits and the
production of electricity at significantly reduced levels of regulated air
emissions when compared to output from other thermal generation sources.
Further, the General Assembly recognizes that meeting stringent environmental
permit requirements is expensive and creates significant cost burdens on
customers and employers,” reads the current text of the House bill.
Other sections specifically single out small modular
reactors – a part of the new nuclear research goals promoted by the Obama
administration in the 2012 proposed budget – as worthy of consideration.
Legislatures in several states are considering similar “construction
work in progress” bills. While critics argue the regulation changes may leave
ratepayers holding the bill for proposed plants that are never finished,
supporters say the measures are critical to utilities considering nuclear power
because of the high costs of environmental permitting and obtaining an
operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Missouri and Indiana legislatures are considering CWIP
bills, and Minnesota is considering lifting a ban on new nuclear power plant
construction.
The Duane Arnold plant near Cedar Rapids is the only nuclear
plant currently operating in Iowa, according to the NRC.