The state lawmaker who has headed Wyoming’s latest exploration of hosting a spent nuclear fuel storage facility has shifted that leadership role over to Gov. Mark Gordon (R).
On Tuesday, state Sen. Jim Anderson (R) told the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Minerals, Business, and Economic Development Committee he has withdrawn a proposed bill to allow the governor — including state agencies in the administration — to start talks with the federal government on licensing and constructing such a site. Legal research showed the governor already has this power, he said.
That transfers the decision to pursue the matter over to the governor’s office, according to Anderson.
The committee met to hear a report from its Spent Fuel Rods Subcommittee, chaired by Anderson, on potential steps toward building a temporary storage site for used fuel from the nation’s nuclear power plants.
Gordon has not decided whether this is a good approach for the state to raise money, according to governor’s spokesman Michael Pearlman. Gordon’s staff need to research the economics, revenue, and safety issues before making a decision, he said. That research includes discussing the matter more with Anderson.
Gordon “is uncertain on whether this proposal is the best way for the state to generate revenue,” Pearlman said.
Spent fuel storage has been estimated to produce $10 million annually for the state, based on payments from the federal government. “If we don’t get more revenue, we will have to cut funding to K-12 education,” Anderson said.
All six members of the public who testified Tuesday before the committee opposed used-fuel storage in the state, citing concerns about leaking canisters, effects on tourism, and property values and safety matters. Also, $10 million seems like a small amount of revenue to the state in exchange for the risks, some said.
