LANSING, Mich. — Legislation requiring a study on the future feasibility of nuclear power in Michigan is in the Senate after being approved on a 85-20 bipartisan vote in the House.
The bill (HB 6019) was assigned to the Senate Energy and Technology Committee May 24 but has not been scheduled for a committee meeting. A spokesperson for bill sponsor Rep. Graham Filler (R) said he had not been able to speak with Committee Chair Sen. Dan Lauwers (R) about the bill. Lauwers could not be reached for comment.
The measure moved as Entergy Nuclear (NYSE:ETR) shut down the Palisades nuclear plant May 20 after 50 years of operations. Entergy has agreed to sell the plant to Holtec Decommissioning International.
Last month, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) called for the use of federal funds to help keep the plant in Covert Township, on the shores of Lake Michigan, open. (See Federal Aid Likely Too Late to Save Palisades, Diablo Canyon Nukes.)
Michigan Public Service Commissioner Katherine Peretick told Bridge Michigan that the state is in serious discussions with a company interested in buying Palisades and continuing to run the plant. She would not identify the company. She said such an agreement would be “a huge deal for the state.”
HB 6019 requires the PSC to hire a firm to assess the state for the possibility of adding nuclear power facilities and to report back in 18 months. The report would look at potential environmental affects, land siting issues, workforce training, the possibility of small modular reactors, workforce education and training, potential job creation, environmental justice issues, and the effect on state tax revenue.
The PSC has not taken a formal position on the bill. But a commission spokesperson said PSC chair Dan Scripps has said the commission will undertake the study if the legislature appropriates funds for the review.
In introducing the bill, Filler said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine proved to him the necessity that the U.S. and Michigan be energy self-sufficient.
Filler also said when he announced the bill that nuclear technology now allows for smaller reactors and more safety features and Michigan should investigate whether those are right for the state.
Palisades’ closure will make it more difficult for the state to meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 by eliminating one of the state’s largest sources of clean electricity.