Kentucky might lift ban on nuclear power plants

Some lawmakers hope to lift a longstanding ban on construction of nuclear power plants in Kentucky.

Senate Bill 156 would repeal a 1984 law that prohibits new nuclear plants until the federal government finalizes a nuclear waste disposal system. So far, the government has not, despite controversial plans to establish Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a national radioactive waste disposal site.

Rather than wait for a federal solution, Kentucky should simply allow its Public Service Commission to begin the approval process for nuclear plants, said Sen. Bob Leeper, an Independent from Paducah and the bill’s sponsor. Without a national disposal site, plants in Kentucky would have to make their own plans for waste storage, such as securing it on their property.

About 30 companies are currently considering whether and where in the United States to open nuclear plants that could result in $4 billion investments each, Leeper said.

“I just want to put Kentucky on the map,” Leeper told the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment on Thursday.

Committee Chairman Jim Gooch, D-Providence, said he likes the bill and considers coal and nuclear to be America’s energy future, while wind and solar power offer “false hopes.”

However, Gooch’s committee could not approve the bill Thursday because too few of its members attended the hearing to provide a quorum. A special hearing might be called in the final days of the 2008 session to pass the bill and allow it the House vote it needs to reach the governor’s desk and be signed into law, Gooch said.

In the audience, environmental activist Tom FitzGerald said he opposes the bill because it “would send the wrong message” on nuclear power, particularly as the national debate over radioactive waste does not appear settled. However, given the enormous start-up costs of a nuclear plant and the industry’s uncertain regulatory future, it’s unlikely companies would rush to build them here anyway, FitzGerald said.

-- John Cheves

Comments

[Jim Anderson Stivers]

It is time!

At the appropriate time there will be an onslaught of major corporations that will be calling at the Commonwealth Commerce Department.

We could learn a lot from THE FRENCH on this one. That is the main source in their country.

There needs to be swifter action for the conclusion of of the storage.

For Kentucky . . . it would be right.
At least one, but I would go with French design as they have many years of experience in this field.

JAS in Frankfort

[Sandy]

Several utilities such as Duke Energy and Progress Energy have operated nuclear plants for many years with an excellent safety record so it's a proven viable option. Many of the nations coal plants are old and are major polluters although there are some new technologies such as IGCC units that are more environmentally friendly.

I would also like to see more research into coal to oil technology. The Nazis did this in WWII but the process is very expensive. But, unless research is done to make the process more economical and efficient, it won't happen. Kentucky is the Saudi Arabia of coal.....

[Bill Adkins]

The Nazis attempted coal gasification for one reason --they were cornered and they had to do it. It's a sucker bet and I'm saying it as one who is from Eastern Kentucky. Certainly it would be a boon to E. Ky, but it's a loser for everyone else. Nuclear Power is the way to energy independence. I'm for it and it's past time to go for it.

[You Bet]

It's time to repeal legislation that is keeping Kentucky from being a "real" national leader in Energy independence.

You bet it's time. Pass this legislation and let's move on. You talk about high paying jobs and increasing STEM education.

[kilowat]

Paducah Ky Gaseous Diffusion Plant. sits 60 miles from New Madrid Mo. where one of the largest earth quake happened in 1811 we have tremors every year. i don't think this is the place to start looking for a new nuclear power plant, hell they can't even run this plant safely...
this is a must read site
Maps drawn last summer but not released to federal investigators reveal that plant officials had taken hundreds of measurements over 10 years showing plutonium in soil and water more than a mile from the plant's fence. Most disturbing was the discovery of elevated levels of the highly dangerous metal in dozens of ground-water tests.
http://www.sprol.com/?p=43