Senate committee hears bill to require utilities to recover energy-waste storage costs

Senate Energy and Environment Committee members on March 31 heard testimony on Senate Bill 577, a measure that would require electric utilities to recover in rates the costs of storing waste produced by energy facilities.

The bill’s digest was read into the record by committee staff member Beth: "Senate Bill 577 requires an electric utility to recover the costs and rates of storing the waste produced by an energy facility and generating electricity." Senator Lou Frederick (D–District 22), sponsor of the bill, told the committee he brought the measure because of long experience reporting on high-cost energy projects and nuclear waste cleanup.

Committee members and witnesses focused on three core issues: who ultimately pays for long‑term waste storage, whether the state’s Public Utility Commission would allow those costs to be passed to…