Kentucky House panel approves nuclear bill

27 February 2009

The Tourism Development and Energy Committee of the Kentucky House has approved a bill that could lead to the lifting of a 25-year-old moratorium on the construction of nuclear power plants within the US state.
 
In 1984, Kentucky introduced a law that said nuclear power plants could not be constructed until the federal government determines how to safely dispose of high-level radioactive waste.
 
Senate Bill 13, introduced by Senator Bob Leeper, calls for the state's legislation to be amended so that nuclear power plants must have a plan for the storage of its waste rather than a means of permanent disposal. The bill would at least allow Kentucky to discuss nuclear power as an energy option. The committee approved the bill by a vote of 12-6.
 
The bill was passed in early February by the Natural Resources and Energy Committee by a vote of 7-1. It was then approved by the Senate in a 29-6 vote on 12 February. The bill will now be sent to the full House for consideration.
 
In November 2008, Kentucky unveiled its first-ever comprehensive energy plan. One of the seven strategies outlined in the plan for meeting the state's energy needs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is for the use of nuclear power for electricity generation in Kentucky to be examined.
 
Kentucky's new energy plan suggested, "Legal hurdles to successful inclusion of nuclear energy in Kentucky's energy mix should be examined. Specifically, removal or revision of the legislative ban on new nuclear power plants must be addressed."
 

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