Electric Co-op Today

A federal panel’s proposal to take politics out of the nation’s approach to nuclear waste disposal has met with support from NRECA and five other energy trade associations.

With the Yucca Mountain project at a dead end, a federal commission has proposed ways to overcome resistance to nuclear waste storage. (Photo By: Department of Energy)

The groups said they agree with the panel’s proposal to create a new federal corporation to run a high-level waste program, as opposed to leaving it in the hands of Congress and the Energy Department.

The Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) on America’s Nuclear Future also is on the right track by urging prompt construction of at least one interim storage facility and assuring that money in the federal Nuclear Waste Fund is used for its intended purpose, they said in a statement.

“Nuclear energy is a key component of America’s energy mix. The BRC recognizes this with its recommendation for stable, long-term support for advanced reactor and fuel cycle technology development that can help address the energy challenges facing future generations,” they said.

Their comments came as the commission issued its final report Jan. 26, after a two-year study of the controversial nuclear waste issue. NRECA joined with the American Public Power Association and the Edison Electric Institute, among others, in endorsing the report. Electric cooperatives own shares of nine nuclear plants that total 2,710 megawatts of generation.

The commission, appointed by President Obama, recommended a “consent-based” approach to siting nuclear waste repositories, a sharp break from past congressional efforts to locate facilities in particular areas such as Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

Based on similar programs in Europe, that would include encouraging communities to volunteer to serve as sites, with flexible and substantial incentives.

The trade associations said they can get behind the creation of a new, independent corporation that would be charged with developing and managing a program for disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste.

“Creating a new management organization is a priority. It will provide strong and effective leadership for a focused mission of managing used nuclear fuel while better insulating the program from political interference,” NRECA and the other groups said.

The new corporation also would make certain that $750 million in fees that annually go into the Nuclear Waste Fund would be available for use as Congress initially intended. The fund is supported by a one-tenth of a cent per kilowatt-hour fee paid by consumers of electricity from nuclear power plants.

Currently, the fund is effectively unavailable to cover the cost of used fuel management and disposal, the trade associations said.

Former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., and former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft chaired the 15-member commission.

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Tags: Energy and Environment