The Prairie Island facility near Red Wing on the Mississippi River is one of only two nuclear power plants in Minnesota. In 1994 the state enacted a moratorium on all new nuclear facilities, in exchange for allowing additional capacity for dry cask storage of wastes at Prairie Island.
Fortunately, a bid to reverse Minnesota’s nationally recognized renewable energy policies in favor of nuclear and coal power failed in the state’s legislature before its adjournment last week. Propelled by the state Chamber of Commerce and allies, a proposal to repeal the state’s 16-year-old ban on new nuclear energy facilities failed when a key state senator refused to allow its addition to a policy bill. In early May, a conditional repeal of the ban passed the State House of Representatives on a 73-59 vote; in 2009 the State Senate approved a repeal of the nuke ban but the House killed it.
Minnesota Wants Clean Local Renewable Energy
Although a spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce said the legislative action shows the nuclear ban is living “on borrowed time,” Minnesota Clean Water Action program coordinator Dave Endreson called it “a signal to all Minnesotans that new nuclear is the wrong direction for our state and that we should remain focused on developing actual clean, home-grown energy”.
More investment in renewable sustainable energy is the obvious answer; most observers generally agree it would take at least dozen years or more to even construct and begin the operation of a new nuclear energy facility in Minnesota.
The nuke moratorium in the state took effect in 1994 as part of a compromise allowing a leading state utility, now known as Xcel Energy, to expand dry cask storage of high-level radioactive waste on the Mississippi River. In March, the State Senate turned back a proposal to allow out-of-state utilities to ship Minnesota electricity from new dirty coal power plants, repealing a policy established in 2007. This amendment would have served coal-producing North Dakota, which has been threatening to sue Minnesota over the coal plant moratorium.
The Senate rejected that repeal on a 29-34 vote. Minnesota Environmental Partnership lobbyist John Tuma called that result a “major victory in defending Minnesota’s nation leading efforts for clean and locally produced energy”.
In the last five years, Minnesota has enacted laws requiring 25% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2025, a goal for utilities to improve efficiency by 1.5% each year, incentives for community-based wind energy projects and a climate change action plan. The state has also set a target of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions 30% by 2050.
Presently Minnesota generates roughly 60% of its electricity from coal-fired facilities, 25% from nuclear facilities and about 5% from wind.
Photo: Minnesota Department of Commerce.
[...] An attempt at overturning a law that prevents new dirty energy plants (and I include nuclear in that category) fell short in Minnesota this week. A great step for Minnesotans and Americans alike, as more and more states turn to clean energy as the answer for keeping the grid lit. Ecolocalizer has the full tale of Minnesota rejecting dirty coal policy. [...]