Remove Minnesota’s Ban on Nuclear Power Plant Construction

 

The purpose of this bill is to allow Certificates of Need to be issued to nuclear power plants, to lower energy costs in

Minnesota and help Minnesota meet its carbon emission goals.

 

 

In 1994 the Minnesota legislature passed 216B.243 CERTIFICATE OF NEED FOR LARGE ENERGY FACILITY which contains

subsection 3b clause a, which states “The commission may not issue a certificate of need for the construction of a new

nuclear-powered electric generating plant.” This clause bans the construction of new nuclear power plants in Minnesota.

However, our two nuclear power plants, Monticello and Prairie Island, do a lot of good for the state of Minnesota. These

plants provide 27% of Minnesota’s energy, 1,650 Megawatts of carbon-free electricity. Minnesota has a goal to be

completely carbon-free by 2040, and our two existing plants keep approximately 8.6 million tons of carbon dioxide out of

the atmosphere.

Building more nuclear plants also has significant economic benefits. Xcel, the company that operates our plants, gave

$176 million back to its Minnesota customers as part of a nuclear tax credit. The two plants also generate over one

billion dollars in economic activity and support 1,470 jobs.

Minnesota is the only state to have a complete ban on nuclear power plant construction, and Wisconsin lifted its nuclear

moratorium in 2016 with bipartisan support. It is wise to catch up with everyone else and expand all the benefits that

nuclear power provides the state.

 

 

Nuclear power plant is defined as a facility that uses a nuclear reactor to generate electricity.

 

The only funding that could be needed is for the state revisors office to update the website once the clause is removed,

which already exists in the state budget and doesn’t need to be increased.

 

There are no penalties or enforcement needed.

 

Effective upon passage.