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State Representative Tim Kelly
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8635
For more information contact: Jason Wenisch 651-296-2317
NEWS COLUMN
A FIRST STEP TOWARDS DISCUSSING NUCLEAR ENERGY
The Minnesota House recently approved legislation that would allow nuclear energy talks to resume in Minnesota. Currently a ban is in place that forbids the state from even discussing utilizing nuclear energy as a way to satisfy Minnesota’s increasing energy needs.
Most of us understand the importance of nuclear energy in this district, having had a nuclear facility in Goodhue County since 1968. Not only has it provided clean, reliable base load energy to thousands of customers, but the plant is also important to our area in terms of the jobs it provides. This bill serves as a realistic first step towards addressing how we approach energy demands.
Minnesota has gone to great lengths to mandate alternative energy sources, and as we’ve found as time has passed, these sources are not economically feasible. With $3.30 gas already popping up across the area, we can ill afford to have our home energy sources continue to rise. Allowing the nuclear discussion to take place at least gives energy providers the opportunity to debate whether or not to consider this low cost energy source. It’s worth noting that the operating costs of the average nuclear facility have declined from 2.46 cents per kilowatt hour in 1995 to 1.7 cents per kilowatt hour today.
The bill is also cognizant of long term storage issues. Xcel Energy and our communities are understandably concerned about future storage, and that’s why it has been addressed in the plan.
The nuclear ban has only served to hold our state back. And to those with concerns, repealing the moratorium does not mean a new plant will pop up tomorrow. But by lifting the ban today, we can empower Minnesota to be a leader in this country’s renewable, independent energy future.
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