A big part of my job is working with members of state
legislatures and their staffs. One the most important working relationships I
have is with the bipartisan National Conference
of State Legislatures (NCSL). State legislators from all over the country
look to NCSL for policy analysis, leadership opportunities, state benchmarks
and, most importantly, facts and information to help them shape policies on the
issues that they face.
NCSL’s new report, “State
Options for Keeping Nuclear in the Energy Mix,” has all the history, facts
and figures to explain why state policies and the electricity markets have
created unintended consequences for nuclear power. By introducing price competition
and Renewable Portfolio Standards, which are meant to encourage new
technologies, policymakers have inadvertently created a math problem that ends
up subtracting nuclear.
It is hardly sensible to subsidize one form of
zero-emissions energy in a way that pushes another form of zero-emissions
energy out of the market.
In response to the alarming trend in nuclear plant closures,
state policymakers have course corrected by starting their own trend: enacting new
policies that will fully value the benefits that nuclear brings. The actions
taken by Illinois and New York to preserve nuclear plants are explained in the
NCSL report. Both states chose to take control of their energy infrastructure
planning. Making electricity without emissions has always had a cost, but we
have never had to pay separately for it. It’s kind of like how we always took
for granted carry-on luggage space on airplanes until we were charged for it.
Was it ever really free?
Although the NCSL report focuses on the preservation of today’s
reactor fleet, other states are warming up to new nuclear energy projects. Wisconsin
last year repealed a 33-year moratorium on new reactors. In 2016 in Kentucky,
the State Senate voted to do the same, and the legislature will take up the
question again this year. With almost a dozen other states with the same
moratoriums, which state will be next?
There are many states that would like to be the leader of
the pack and create incentives for advanced nuclear technologies. Take for
instance New Mexico, which has commissioned a study on the feasibility of small
modular reactors.
We have never had this amount of chatter around nuclear energy
at the state level. This is thanks to the states that are taking the lead to
keep nuclear energy in the mix for the benefit of their constituents. We look
forward to the continued trend of state policies properly valuing nuclear power
for providing emission-free, 24/7 electricity to tens of millions of households
and businesses.
The above is a guest
post from Christine Csizmadia, director of state governmental affairs and
advocacy at NEI. Follow Christine on Twitter at @CCsizmadia.
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