FRANKFORT, KY (February 22, 2023) – In efforts to establish a nuclear energy development working group, Senator Danny Carroll, R-Benton, filed Senate Joint Resolution 79 (SJR 79). He presented the resolution before the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee today, which approved the measure favorably.
Senate Bill 11 from the 2017 Legislative Session lifted a moratorium on constructing new nuclear power facilities in Kentucky.
“Given the incredible developments in recent years concerning nuclear energy and given that we have no current nuclear-generating facilities in the state despite promising new technologies, I feel it is time we take a step forward on this issue,” Carroll said.
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 Insitute, 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.
“A nuclear energy commission has the potential to make a monumental impact in bettering the daily lives of Kentuckians, such as powering their lives and their bank accounts,” Carrol said. “I don’t view this as only an energy opportunity. We are talking long-term, high-paying career opportunities.”
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.
“Kentucky can be a leader on this front, but it’s going to require us to be open to the possibilities nuclear energy creates,” Carroll said. “I believe nuclear energy’s time has come and I hope this resolution will start something monumental here in the bluegrass state.”
With the Senate Natural Resources and Energy’s approval, SJR 79 now qualifies for consideration by the full Senate. While joint resolutions do not modify state statutes, they 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.