Utah House urges study of N-power
HB46 to create focus on alternative energy sources
The House amended HB46, which would create a new state energy office focus on alternative energy technologies, to include a specific mention of nuclear energy research. With the amendment, the bill passed 66-2.
But some lawmakers warned that the bill could send the wrong message when the state is fighting against a proposal to store nuclear power waste in the west desert.
In supporting the amendment, multiple representatives quoted President Bush's State of the Union speech, in which he said that "America is addicted to oil" and announced a new energy initiative.
Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, said that Utah — with its uranium availability, power delivery infrastructure, and thousands of acres of state-owned land — has a "great potential" to become a nuclear power supplier for the entire West.
More importantly, nuclear power is a safe and clean option for Utah, Noel said, with a proven track record of safety for two decades. By building a nuclear power plant, they could preserve their coal reserves and clean up their air.
Supporting the research of nuclear power, while possibly important in the future, could pose a big problem for Utah's current fight to keep nuclear waste out of the state, said Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful. Since the bill was intentionally vague about which energy resources could be researched, the state could still look at nuclear power as a viable option without specifically identifying it in the bill.
Currently, state officials are trying to stop the shipment of nuclear waste to the Skull Valley Indian Reservation by Private Fuel Storage, a consortium of nuclear power plants who need to dispose of spent nuclear rods.
"This may be worthwhile in the future, but not today, not now," Allen said. "This could have unintended consequences on the decade-old fight we have had in Utah to keep the nuclear waste out of Utah."
Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, who sponsored the amendment, said that specifying the research of nuclear power would not open the door to disposing of nuclear waste in the state. Instead, it provides Utah a way to be out front with Bush's energy initiative and develop a viable alternative energy source.
"This does not send a message to bring all of your spent nuclear rods to this state," Daw said. "All I'm saying is that we should be studying the use of nuclear power in the state. . . .nuclear energy is clean and it is safe."
E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com
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