Senate committee approves utility disclosure of nuclear-waste storage costs; amendment adopted

The Senate Energy and Environment Committee on Feb. 16 adopted amendments to Senate Bill 15 97 and voted to report the bill to the full Senate with a due-pass recommendation.

Committee staff said the dash-1 amendment narrows the bill to require electric utilities to disclose to customers the costs recovered in electricity rates for storing nuclear waste produced by an energy facility. OLIS amendments discussed in committee also define "small modular reactor" and provide that some statutes on siting of nuclear-fueled thermal power plants do not apply to small modular reactor energy facilities.

During debate, Senator Robinson opposed the bill, saying Oregon faces energy shortages, that electric rates are rising and that pursuing nuclear power should be made easier rather than harder. Robinson told colleagues she was "a solid no on this" and that she was "solidly against it." The committee proceeded to a roll-call vote: Senators Bowman and Pam voted yes; Senator Robinson and Vice Chair Brock Smith voted no; Chair Coleman voted yes. The chair announced that the motion carried and the bill will be forwarded to the Senate floor for further consideration.

Committee staff recorded no or minimal fiscal impact for the amendment; the bill's next procedural stop is the floor, where members will debate broader policy and any additional amendments.