Nuke Bill Clears Senate Committee
SB 26, Senator Bob Leeper’s nuclear power repeat bill from last session, passed out of the senate Ag and Natural resources Committee with only one dissenting vote. Ironically, the no vote came from a coal-field legislator who objected to placing nuclear power in competition with coal generated power. The bill authorizes new activity in the area of nuclear fueled electricity generation and fuel reprocessing without having to define a method of disposal of the dangerous waste products. The Obama administration has stopped the opening of the Yucca Mountain disposal facility in Nevada effectively putting a stop to the nuclear industry in the U.S. unless power generators are allowed to store spent fuel on-site. This bill would allow such storage. Tom Fitzgerald of the Kentucky Resources Council spoke in opposition to the bill, but Senator Leeper countered by having Len Peters, Secretary of the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet speak in favor of developing the nuclear option in Kentucky. This bill will certainly pick up a lot of opposition as it moves through the legislative process. KCC will continue to oppose this option for nuclear development, stressing the need for a long-term Federal solution to waste disposal before we try as a State to take the nuclear “great leap forward” some would like.