Senate committee hears HB 4046 proposal to study advanced nuclear reactors in Oregon

An Oregon Senate Energy and Environment Committee informational hearing on Feb. 11 examined House Bill 4046 (‑2 amendment), which would require the Oregon Department of Energy to study the technical feasibility, costs and risks of advanced nuclear reactors as part of the state’s future energy mix. Presenters and lawmakers discussed study scope, funding mechanisms, waste management and protections for environmental justice communities.

Representative Boomer Wright, a bill sponsor, told the committee the measure is intended as a "balanced objective, technical feasibility study" of advanced nuclear reactors and their potential to provide clean base‑load power, while also addressing timing, safety, workforce and financing. "Oregon has need of a diverse mix of clean energy generation sources that can provide reliable base load power," Wright said, adding the study would describe reactor types and examine regulatory and economic factors.

Representative Bobby Levy, who said his local electric cooperatives are struggling to meet growing demand, said the study is needed to ensure Oregon can plan resilient supply. "As demand increases, we need to have the resilient supply to meet the need," Levy said, and noted negotiations with Columbia Riverkeeper and the Sierra Club contributed to the amendment’s language.

Maureen McGee, who helped negotiate the dash‑2 amendment, outlined changes that she said increase transparency and public oversight: clearer descriptions of reactor technologies and sizes, an explicit requirement that the Department analyze potential impacts on environmental justice communities per the ORS definition cited in the bill, and directives to study emergency preparedness and the risks and benefits of recycling or reprocessing nuclear waste. "We designed the study to be conducted by the Department of Energy for a very important reason, and that reason is objectivity," McGee said, noting the bill requires the department to publicly report any outside funding sources and potential conflicts.

Committee members asked whether the bill would first require a literature review of other states’ studies. McGee and sponsors confirmed the bill directs the department to use peer‑reviewed research, existing state studies, national lab resources and public health data, then fill Oregon‑specific gaps. Senator Golden pressed how the study would account for recent federal regulatory changes and whether those changes shift responsibility for safety to state agencies; McGee said the study would review applicable federal and state statutes and emerging federal policy changes to provide context.

Panelists also discussed nuclear waste: presenters noted there is currently no permanent national repository and that some research reactor spent material from Oregon institutions is stored at Idaho National Laboratory. McGee said the study will include a detailed look at types of waste, existing storage methods and the costs and safety records for disposal.

The informational hearing did not include a committee vote. Sponsors said the bill is scheduled for further work‑session action, and several lawmakers signaled interest in ensuring literature review and strict public reporting requirements on outside funding before formal adoption.

Next steps: the committee carried multiple items over to Monday for work sessions and additional hearings; HB 4046 remains under consideration.