Caledonia Argus

Senate debates, passes Prairie Island bill

Posted: 5/27/03

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

Sen. Steve Murphy still had a headache after the three and half hour Prairie Island Senate floor debate on May 23.

But the Red Wing DFLer also had a victory.

The Senate passed Murphyís legislation, which permits additional nuclear cask storage at Xcel Energyís Prairie Island nuclear plant, on a 40 to 26 vote.

The bill also affects Xcelís Monticello nuclear plant.

Murphy, whose migraine headache necessitated a hospital visit, expected the House to concur with the Senate bill.

On Saturday, the prediction came true.

Although numerous amendments were offered on the Senate floor, the tone of debate never degraded into the chaotic, shouting match of late the last time the Senate debated Prairie Island (May 19).

Senate leaders took the unusual step of having senators offer amendment and then recess while the amendments were considered by Senate members.

Murphy ó who in his quest for passage of Prairie Island legislation has been assisted by Sen. Mark Ourada, R-Buffalo ó thinks of the legislation in term of economic development.

ìThe bill creates a lot of jobs,î said Murphy, an Excel Energy employee.

Ourada sees the legislation as protecting ratepayers.

If the stateís two nuclear power plants go offline, it would drive up energy costs in Minnesota five to ten percent, said Ourada.

About 20 percent of Minnesotaís power comes from Xcel Energyís nuclear reactors.

On the Senate floor, Ourada said Xcel Energy had to have guidance on the future of the Monticello plant ó a plant in Ouradaís district.

If the plant couldnít remain open, Xcel had to begin drawing up plans to replace the missing power.

ìWe are at the absolute drop dead date with Monticello,î said Ourada.

The operating licenses for Prairie Island expires in about a decade.

Monticello is licensed through 2010.

Under the bill, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) would made the recommendation on future licensing of the nuclear plants.

But the Legislature would have an opportunity to review or modify the PUC finding, which would be provided House and Senate commerce committees.

Murphy said itís impossible for the PUC to bypass the legislative process.

Besides the review process, senators also voiced concerns over safety issues ó having nuclear storage casks near the Mississippi River for an unknown amount of time.

ìTheyíre impervious,î said Murphy, dismissing concerns of flooding.

Each cask is a 122 tons of steel and lead, he said.

ìThey cannot be moved by water,î he argued.

One amendment offered by Senate Majority John Hottinger, DFL-St. Peter, would have had the PUC consider the availability of a federal repository for Minnesotaís nuclear waste.

If reasonable expectations of a such repository were not met, the issue would go before the Legislature.

The amendment failed.

Speaking after the floor session, Ourada said thereís more than a reasonable expectation the proposed federal repository at Yucca Mountain will open.

One feature of the Prairie Island bill is that it provides incentives for a coal-gasification power plant proposed for northeast Minnesota.

Local Senate lawmakers voting in the affirmative: Belanger, Johnson, Debbie, Knutson, Limmer, McGinn, Nienow, Ourada, Pariseau, and Wergin.

Voting against: Bachmann, Betzold, Chaudhary, Foley, Jungbauer, and Kierlin.

The Prairie Island bill passed the House on Saturday (May 24) on a 80 to 45 vote.

Local House members voting in the affirmative: Anderson, Davids, DeLaForest, Eastlund, Gerlach, Haas, Hackbarth, Krinkie, Lindner, Olsen, Olson, Ozment, Strachan, Tingelstad, Vandeveer, Wardlow, Westerberg, and Wilkin.

Voting against: Abeler, Bernardy, Goodwin, Holberg, Nelson, P., and Otto.

Erickson did not vote.

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