If Maine is any indication of how small nuclear power plants will be received by the nation, it seems fair to say that they will not be sneaked in through a side door.
Legislators in Maine, which currently has no nuclear power plants in operation, held a pubic hearing last week to air out concerns of a bill proposed by Governor Paul LePage that would allow new nuclear power plants with a 500 megawatt or smaller capacity to avoid the current voter mandate that is required of new nuclear power plants in the state.
Nuclear power is the only generation system that requires voter approval in Maine, according to director of the governor's Energy Office Patrick Woodcock.
Woodcock also noted that the public would have a voice in the approval process, as they are welcome to participate in municipal permit hearings.
Woodcock said state policies should reflect the state's “energy and environmental objectives.” He added that the state should not shy away from new technologies.
But anti-nuke sentiment was reportedly strong at a panel hearing last week and one lawmaker, state representative Rep. Mark Dion, a Democrat, said it would be difficult to explain to voters why their representatives took away a plant-by-plant vote on nuclear power.
Tellingly, Dion said, “There's no such thing as a limited nuclear facility,” which sounds like it lumps all nuclear power options into one category.
The only nuclear power plant in the state, Maine Yankee, closed in 1997. While that plant survived three voter referendums put forth by anti-nuke groups, the risks of a nuclear power plant investment in Maine remains dicey. The panel considering the governor's bill has not taken action on it yet.