**UPDATE** CARROLL CHAMPIONS NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMONWEALTH Resolution Would Initiate State Efforts in Nuclear Energy Production

FRANKFORT, KY (March 2, 2023) – In efforts to establish a nuclear energy development working group, Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, filed Senate Joint Resolution 79 (SJR 79). Today, he carried to bill to passage in the state Senate.

“I appreciate my colleagues support of this resolution that I believe can serve a critical role in providing the commonwealth energy reliability as we look to the future,” Carroll said. “The nuclear energy commission this resolution would establish will improve Kentuckian’s lives, power their future and provide incredible career opportunities. I am calling on my friends in the House to approve this measure and allow Kentucky to be a leader in nuclear energy production.”
Senate Bill 11 from the 2017 Legislative Session lifted a moratorium on constructing new nuclear power facilities in Kentucky.

Beyond the potential to better meet energy needs for Kentucky residents, this measure can also bolster economic development and job creation by making Kentucky more attractive to the nuclear industry.

According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, the United States nuclear energy sector employs nearly 100,000—500-800 in each power plant. This number climbs to 475,000 when you include secondary jobs.

NUCLEAR ENERGY WORKING GROUP’S MISSION

If approved by both legislative chambers, the Nuclear Energy Working Group would be administratively attached to the Energy and Environment Cabinet for staff support. It would be tasked with the following:

  • Identifying the barriers to deploying nuclear power generation resources and other related technologies in the Commonwealth, including regulatory, statutory, financial, social, environmental, workforce and educational barriers.

  • Developing recommendations for how a permanent nuclear energy commission could address the barriers to deploying nuclear power generation resources and other related technologies in the Commonwealth.

  • Consulting with any federal, state, or local agencies, nonprofit organizations, private industry, or other impacted stakeholders on what the role of the permanent nuclear energy commission should be.

  • Developing recommendations for a required report on the group's efforts.

 The group would begin meeting no later than September 1 and would have to submit a report to the Legislative Research Commission on or before December 1. The report must detail the working group’s activity and provide recommendations for creating a permanent nuclear energy commission, along with information such as staffing needs, creating a mission statement, and a list of short and long-term goals.

MEMBERSHIP

The twenty-membership body would include the following:

  • The executive director of the Office of Energy Policy

  • The executive director of the Public Service Commission

  • The director of the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research

  • A representative from each of the four investor-owned electric utilities operating in the commonwealth—designated by the president of each investor-owned electric utility, including:

    o   AEP Kentucky Power in Ashland

    o   Louisville Gas and Electric Co. in Louisville

    o   Kentucky Utilities Company in Lexington

    o   Duke Energy in Newport

  • The chief operating officer of the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives

  • The executive director of the Kentucky Municipal Utilities Association

  • The executive director of Kentucky Industrial Utility Customers

  • The chief nuclear officer of the Tennessee Valley Authority

  • The executive director of the United States Nuclear Industry Council

  • The executive director of the Kentucky Conservation Committee

  • A representative from a national nuclear educational nonprofit organization

  •  A representative from a United States Department of Energy National Laboratory with expertise in nuclear energy policy issues

  • The director of business services for the Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership

  • Two non-voting ex-officio members from each legislative chamber in the Kentucky General Assembly—designated by the House Speaker and Senate President

A Senate Floor Amendment was adopted to SJR 79 on the Senate floor prior to its passage. The amendment increases the number of members to 23, adding three members:

  • two representatives from cooperative electric generation and transmission utilities and;

  • one representative from the Nuclear Energy Institute

With the Senate’s approval, SJR 79 now qualifies for consideration by the full Senate. While joint resolutions do not modify state statutes, they do carry the force of law.

NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT FORUM COMING TO KENTUCKY

In a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, McCracken County, the City of Paducah and other local organizations, the Energy Communities Alliance’s Nuclear Development Forum is slated to hold a conference in Paducah, KY May 17-19. The focus of the forum will be building nuclear capacity and opportunity.

Visit legislature.ky.gov for more information on Sen. Danny Carroll and CLICK HERE to access Senate Joint Resolution 79. See the PDF attachment for details on the May Nuclear Development Forum in Paducah.

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Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, represents the 2nd Senate District, including Ballard, Carlisle, Livingston, Marshall, and McCracken Counties. He serves as Senate Families and Children Committee chair. He is also a Senate Education, Health Services and Judiciary committee member. Additionally, Carroll is a member of the Public Pension Oversight Board and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee. For a high-resolution .jpeg of Carroll, please visit: https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate102.jpg.

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