Commissioners back joining nuclear-energy coalition, urge lifting of Minnesota moratorium

The Sherburne County Board heard a presentation from Derek Moe of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association (MREA) and agreed to authorize staff to finalize a letter joining a coalition that advocates lifting Minnesota's moratorium on new nuclear facilities.

Derek Moe described MREA's position that nuclear energy — including small modular reactors (SMRs) — should be part of the state's future energy mix to provide carbon-free baseline power that is not weather-dependent. "We think it's really necessary that we do that in order to have, you know, the only carbon-free resource that is available regardless of weather conditions," Moe said.

Board members framed the issue as both an energy and economic-development opportunity for Sherburne County, referencing local infrastructure and the planned shutdown of Sherco power facilities. One commissioner said the county is "in a unique position" to pursue the issue and offered to participate in legislative outreach.

The board asked staff to complete a letter and to place the request in the minutes as an action authorizing the county to join the coalition; a motion to proceed carried by voice vote.

Staff indicated further action will come through the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) process and that the county would seek opportunities to pilot demonstration projects for SMRs and newer generation technologies if state law changes.