Rep. Eric Lucero, R-Dayton, addresses the House of Representatives during discussion of a jobs and energy bill Wednesday at the Capitol in St. Paul.
ST. PAUL – Legislation Rep. Eric Lucero, R-Dayton, chief-authored was included in a jobs and energy package the Minnesota House of Representatives passed Wednesday.
Lucero's provision repeals the Minnesota prohibition on new nuclear power plants, one component in a series of initiatives Lucero said will bring cleaner, more affordable energy to Minnesota.
"The regulatory review and permitting process for a new nuclear power plant takes approximately 15 years, and the current permits expire in just over 15 years for both the Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear power plants," Lucero said. "Nuclear power is important because it provides a base level of power in Minnesota and the Monticello plant in particular provides our region with many high-skilled jobs."
Other key energy provisions in the Omnibus Job Growth and Energy Affordability Finance Bill (H.F. 843) include expanding propane access and affordability, and taking advantage of modern technology such as converting diesel fleets to natural gas.
"The focus with this bill is on cleaner, cheaper energy and jobs is to invest in the private economy and help Minnesota's energy consumers save money," Lucero said. "On the other hand, Gov. Mark Dayton's and the Democrats' approach to energy and jobs is to enact more mandates and create more government jobs by growing government."
Jobs-related measures in the package include creating a program to better train citizens in manufacturing, addressing a long-term care worker shortage in Minnesota and providing funding to continue development of on-the-job training standards to place and train workers in vacant positions.
The bill now goes to a conference committee for consideration alongside Senate legislation on related subjects.
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