Thomas Gardiner
Federal legislation introduced this week could mean millions of dollars in relief for communities still housing spent reactor fuel at nuclear plants, according to two lawmakers from Illinois.
The catalyst for the bill is the former Zion plant in Illinois, where used fuel remains in storage nearly two decades after the facility’s closure in 1998. “Zion and communities like it have been unfairly saddled with storing our nation’s stranded nuclear waste – forced to shoulder the burdens of storage with no compensation in return,” said U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D), whose district includes Zion.
The bill, titled “Sensible, Timely Relief for America’s Nuclear Districts’ Economic Development (STRANDED),” was submitted in both chambers of Congress by Schneider and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
STRANDED would require the energy secretary, within 60 days of the law’s passage, to establish a grant program for local jurisictions that house nuclear plants to receive $15 per fiscal year for each kilogram of spent nuclear fuel that remains on-site. For the roughly 1,000 tons of waste at the old Zion plant, the city of Zion would receive about $15 million annually.
Many cities that host once-active nuclear power sites face economic difficulties. When plants are shut down, companies no longer pay the same amount of property taxes, leaving communities with a large chunk of real estate that can’t be developed and a tax deficit.
STRANDED would also make nuclear waste communities eligible for New Markets Tax Credits, which were established in 2000 to provide federal tax credits to promote business and real estate development in distressed communities; as well as First-Time Homebuyer Credits.
It would authorize up to $94 million in spending on the program annually from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2024.
The bill would also require the energy secretary to form a “Stranded Nuclear Waste Task Force,” which would have 180 days to issue a study on “existing public and private resources and funding for which affected communities may be eligible” and “develop immediate and long-term economic adjustment plans tailored to the needs of each affected community.”
“For years communities have been forced to house this waste without consent or compensation, despite the immeasurable negative impact to their local economies,” Duckworth said. “Since the federal government has failed to open a permanent repository the STRANDED Act will help affected areas around the country that are facing hardship now. Zion can’t wait any longer.”
Duckworth’s bill, which had no co-sponsors as of Friday, was referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Schneider’s bill, also without co-sponsors, was referred to the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees.
