Lawmakers pitch study of small, sodium‑cooled reactors as climate, economic tool

Representative Bob Hooper (Chittenden-13) asked the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 27 to create a study committee to evaluate small, sodium‑cooled nuclear reactors and whether they could play a role in Vermont’s energy future.

The proposal, filed as H.8287, would convene stakeholders — including former parties to Vermont Yankee and state agencies — to examine the feasibility of siting modern, small modular reactor designs near existing generation infrastructure such as Burlington’s McNeil plant and other former or current generating sites. A proxy presenting for Hooper told the committee, “I bring to present 8287, which is a simple study committee, on a controversial subject.”

Hooper’s proxy said the study…