HF4703

Purpose

This bill would provide funding for a study to explore whether Minnesota should build nuclear-powered electric generating facilities, including small modular reactors, and what would be involved in doing so.

Funding and Timing

• Funding: A specific amount in fiscal year 2027 from the Renewable Development Account would go to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to hire the Great Plains Institute to conduct the study.
• Deadline: The study must be finished by June 30, 2027.
• Reporting: The PUC must share the study with the chairs and ranking minority members of the energy committees by February 1, 2027.

Study Scope and Topics

The study must analyze these areas:

1) Licensing and regulation - How changes in federal rules for licensing nuclear-powered facilities could affect Minnesota.

2) Technology and costs - Advances in technology for conventional nuclear power and how they impact safety and cost.

3) Small modular reactors (SMRs) - Focus on factory-built, portable SMRs up to 300 megawatts, including: - Type of technology available - Current licensing status - Estimated costs

4) Siting and location - How proximity to water for cooling might limit where facilities could be located, and a list of Minnesota locations that meet cooling needs. - Possibility of locating nuclear facilities near large electricity users. - Environmental and health impacts on nearby residents. - How host communities can be engaged and what practices work best for siting. - Interconnection and transmission issues and how they affect potential plant locations.

5) Nuclear waste - Amount and toxicity of radioactive waste from both conventional reactors and SMRs. - Costs of storing waste on site. - Possibility and costs of long-term storage at a federally owned or private repository, and whether Minnesota’s waste could be moved there. - Feasibility and cost of reprocessing nuclear waste.

6) Local economic impact - Effects on host communities, including jobs during construction and operation. - Local economic activity from facility purchases. - Potential tax revenue for local governments, schools, and the state.

7) Public safety and emergency planning - Impacts on public safety officials and emergency responders in host and nearby areas, particularly in emergency planning.

Deliverables and Reporting

• The study is to be conducted and completed as specified, with a formal report to the legislative leadership that covers the enumerated topics.

Significance and Relation to Current Law

• This bill does not create new nuclear facilities or change existing licensing rules. It would not directly alter Minnesota law governing nuclear energy but would fund a comprehensive assessment of many factors related to future nuclear projects.
• Notably, the appropriation is described as proceeding “notwithstanding” a specific existing statute provision, meaning it can move forward despite that rule as it funds the study.

Impact on Stakeholders

• Government: Provides a detailed, data-driven analysis to inform potential future decisions on nuclear energy.
• Communities: Assesses how hosting a facility could affect jobs, economy, school funding, safety planning, and engagement with residents.
• Industry and regulators: Evaluates licensing, technology options (including SMRs), cooling and siting constraints, and interconnection issues.
• Environmental and health considerations: Examines potential environmental impacts and health considerations for nearby populations.

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Relevant Terms renewable development account Public Utilities Commission Great Plains Institute nuclear-powered electric generating facilities nuclear energy study small modular reactors (SMRs) up to 300 megawatts federal licensing regulations siting proximity to water resources cooling needs environmental impacts host communities emergency planning interconnection transmission issues nuclear waste on-site storage permanent storage repository reprocessing economic impacts employment local tax revenue Minnesota Statutes 116C.779 notwithstanding February 1, 2027 June 30, 2027