Hearing set for Nealey bill that would explore further use of nuclear energy in Washington
The House Technology, Energy and Communications Committee will accept testimony next Wednesday, Feb. 9, on a bill that would explore the further use of nuclear energy in Washington.
House Bill 1513, introduced by Rep. Terry Nealey, R-Dayton, would create a nine-member legislative task force to study the future potential use of nuclear energy in the state. The study would be completed by Dec. 1.
Nealey says electric utility companies are concerned about their ability to meet future energy demands if baseload generation sources, such as coal- and gas-fired plants, are eliminated or curtailed without a replacement that would provide constant power to the grid. He says wind and solar energy would not be sufficient replacements because they provide only intermittent power. The 16th District lawmaker, whose district is adjacent to the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford site in southeastern Washington, says nuclear energy makes sense as a replacement because it is, as he says, “one of the most reliable and clean non-emitting electrical baseload generation sources.”
In addition, the legislation sets out goals of constructing at least one nuclear energy facility in Washington in the next nine years, three by 2030, and five by 2040.
A public hearing has been scheduled on the bill for Feb. 9, at 1:30 p.m. in the House Technology, Energy and Communications Committee, John L. O'Brien Building, Hearing Room B, in Olympia.
