BISMARCK, N.D. (KUMV) – A majority of North Dakota’s electricity comes from coal and wind. The state legislature could be looking at adding nuclear power to the mix in the future.
A proposed bill has been drafted by the Energy Development and Transmission Committee to have legislative management provide a study on the feasibility, siting and deployment of nuclear power plants. The study would include evaluations of locations, compatibility with the electric grid and economic and legal impacts.
Whether or not a nuclear plant could be set up in North Dakota would also depend on how a community feels about it.
“Under the U.S. Department of Energy’s policy, states and others must study whether the location of a nuclear facility in a community is accepted and supported by that community,” said Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot.
The draft states a one-time cost of up to $500,000 for the study. The bill is subject to change once the legislative session starts next year.
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