UPDATE:
NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
LEGISLATION SURGES THROUGH SENATE
Sen. Carroll issues statement following passage
FRANKFORT, KY (Feb. 26, 2024) – Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, presented Senate Bill 198 (SB) and Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 140 for the full Senate’s consideration Monday. The measures aim to strengthen Kentucky’s multi-faceted energy ecosystem by moving toward the addition of nuclear energy. Both measures were approved 34-0. They now move to the state House of Representatives for consideration.
“I’m grateful for my Senate colleagues’ continued open minds and support for Kentucky being at the forefront of this technology's promising advancements,” Carroll said upon the Senate’s approval. “Nuclear energy development has a place in our state’s vast energy ecosystem and offers a brighter future for our communities, businesses and consumers. I hope to see our friends in the state House embrace SB 198 and SJR 140 as the Senate has.”
BACKGROUND
The bill and resolution follow the work of the Nuclear Energy Working Group, which was established through Carroll's 2023 SJR 79. In December, the working group concluded and reported "that there are no insurmountable barriers to nuclear energy development in Kentucky" but acknowledged real challenges that will require serious attention.
Carroll's latest legislation strives to embrace a continued multi-faceted energy sector to meet Kentucky's power needs while putting measures in place to ensure the commonwealth is a player in the anticipated advanced nuclear energy boom.
SB 198 would establish the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority administratively attached to the University of Kentucky's Center for Applied Energy Research and governed by an advisory board of representatives from numerous stakeholders throughout the state and national nuclear organizations. The authority's mission would be to serve as a non-regulatory, trusted state government agency on nuclear energy issues and development in the commonwealth. It would also support the development of Kentucky's nuclear energy ecosystem in a manner that enhances the economy, protects the environment, supports community voices, increases energy education, and prepares the future workforce.
The authority's purpose and function would include assisting local communities in understanding advanced nuclear energy opportunities, providing information on nuclear energy to the general public, developing economic opportunities, engaging with regulators, and promoting stakeholder collaboration.
SB 198 requires the authority to contract for services to produce a site suitability study to identify the best potential locations for nuclear reactors and other facilities related to the nuclear ecosystem in the commonwealth.
SB 198 directs the authority to study to identify the workforce and educational needs to develop and support the nuclear ecosystem in Kentucky.
SB 198 charges the authority to implement an educational and marketing campaign designed to educate residents on modern nuclear energy technologies and the potential benefits of nuclear power generation and other applications of nuclear energy technologies.
Additionally, SB 198 would task the Cabinet for Economic Development to create a financial assistance grant program for nuclear energy-related projects to support the entire nuclear energy ecosystem in the commonwealth.
Finally, SB 198 authorizes the authority to create criteria for a voluntary "nuclear-ready community" designation. The criteria for a community to be designated as a nuclear-ready community would include:
Local Public Educational Meetings: The community must hold local public educational meetings to educate residents on advanced nuclear energy technologies, the nuclear ecosystem, and the potential role of nuclear energy-related development in the community.
Availability of Suitable Sites: The community should have sites recognized by the Cabinet for Economic Development as suitable for nuclear energy-related projects.
Community Support: The community needs to adopt resolutions from the county. and all cities in the county or successfully pass a county ballot initiative declaring the community's readiness for nuclear energy-related projects to be developed and sited there.
To ensure the state is prepared to handle applications for establishing and constructing Kentucky's nuclear energy ecosystem, Carroll has also introduced SJR 140, which would direct the Public Service Commission to:
survey nuclear regulatory staff in other states to gather valuable insights,
hire experts in nuclear regulatory matters who can promptly assist with any applications,
train existing staff to enhance their understanding of nuclear siting and construction issues,
modify administrative regulations to require electric utilities to consider all generation resources, including nuclear, in their planning, and
review existing regulations to eliminate any obstacles to effective regulation and the development of the nuclear industry in our state.
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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, Juvenile Justice Oversight Council, and the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee.
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