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Committee hears bills to repeal nuclear moratorium; Prairie Island protections added, partial repeal fails on tie vote
Summary
Senate File 350 (full repeal) and Senate File 468 (partial repeal for units up to 300 MW) were considered together. The committee adopted an amendment adding Prairie Island protections, heard dozens of pro and con witnesses, failed a roll‑call to advance SF468 by a 7‑7 tie, and laid SF350 over for further work.
Sen. John Matthews, sponsor of Senate File 350 and co‑sponsor of Senate File 468, presented two related bills to the Senate Energy Committee on Jan. 29 that would lift Minnesota’s 1994 nuclear moratorium either in full (SF 350) or in part for units up to 300 megawatts (SF 468).
Matthews said he brought the bills because Minnesota will need new, reliable baseload generation to meet the state’s 2040 carbon‑free target. “We need clean, reliable baseload generation as our source of generation here in the state,” Matthews said. He said he has been working with the Prairie Island Indian Community and would continue consultations.
The committee adopted an identical A‑4 amendment to both bills that bars new nuclear generation and new on‑site storage of nuclear waste “on or within 10 miles” of the Prairie Island Indian Community; the amendment was presented by Matthews and adopted by voice vote.
Supporters and proponents: A coalition calling itself the Minnesota Nuclear Energy Alliance — including utilities, labor unions, businesses and some…
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