S 281

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1S.281
2 Introduced by Senators Weeks, Beck, Bongartz, Chittenden, Collamore and
3Norris
4 Referred to Committee on
5 Date:
6 Subject: Public service; energy; nuclear energy
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish a
8 committee to study the feasibility of constructing a nuclear power generation
9 facility in Vermont.
10    An act relating to the Zero-Carbon Nuclear Feasibility Study for Vermont
11 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
12 Sec. 1. VERMONT ZERO-CARBON NUCLEAR FEASIBILITY STUDY
13    (a) Creation. There is created the Nuclear Power Study Committee to
14 identify the obstacles to constructing a new nuclear energy generation facility
15 in Vermont, including those in State and federal law.
16    (b) Membership. The Study Committee shall have seven members
17 appointed as follows:
18(1) the Chair of the Public Utility Commission or designee;
19(2) a representative from the Vermont Electric Power Company;
20(3) a representative from ISO New England Inc.;
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1(4) two current members of the House of Representatives, each from
2 different political parties, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House;
3 and
4(5) two current members of the Senate, each from different political
5 parties, who shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees.
6    (c) Powers and duties. The Study Committee shall:
7(1) review reasons why the prior nuclear generation facility closed, what
8 obstacles exist in both State and federal law, and what practical issues may
9 exist that would prevent a new facility from opening; and
10(2) hear from a variety of stakeholders on this issue, including
11 representatives of electric utilities, representatives from NextEra Energy,
12 representatives from the Nuclear Energy Institute, and representatives from the
13 U.S. Department of Energy.
14    (d) Assistance. The Study Committee shall have the administrative
15 assistance of the Office of Legislative Operations, the legal assistance of the
16 Office of Legislative Counsel, and the analytical assistance of the Joint Fiscal
17 Office.
18    (e) Meetings.
19(1) The Office of Legislative Counsel shall call the first meeting of the
20 Study Committee to occur on or before July 31, 2026.
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1(2) The Study Committee shall elect a chair from among its members at
2 the first meeting.
3(3) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
4(4) The Study Committee shall cease to exist on January 31, 2027.
5    (f) Report. On or before December 15, 2026, the Study Committee shall
6 submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and
7 Energy and the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure with a
8 summary of the feasibility study and recommendations for next steps,
9 including any legislative action needed.
10    (g) Compensation and reimbursement.
11(1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General
12 Assembly, a legislative member of the Study Committee serving in the
13 legislator’s capacity as a legislator shall be entitled to per diem compensation
14 and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 23 for not more than six
15 meetings in fiscal year 2027.
16(2) Other members of the Study Committee who are not otherwise
17 compensated by their employer shall be entitled to per diem compensation and
18 reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more
19 than six meetings in fiscal year 2027.
20(3) The payments under this subsection shall be made from monies
21 appropriated by the General Assembly or any grant funding received.
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1 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
2   This act shall take effect on passage.
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