Part 1 of 2 Parts
Three years ago, Ohio lawmakers tried to bail out the state’s aging nuclear power plants by passing a law intended to make utility customers pay more than one billion dollars in subsidies for these former FirstEnergy commercial nuclear power plants.
The nuclear subsidies called for by the bill were eventually repealed. Now some lawmakers are promoting legislation to aid private companies in developing a type of next-generation nuclear technology known as a molten salt reactor.
Ohio House Bill 434 does not include any direct funding for such reactors, but it would establish a state nuclear development authority meant to attract federal research contracts. It would also be eligible for state economic development funding. In addition, it would have the authority to purchase property.
Representative of a Cleveland-based nonprofit organization called eGeneration, testified in favor of the bill. They stress the potential benefits of developing the project in Ohio. Supporters of the bill say that the technology could generate carbon-free power for centuries using spent fuel depleted at convention nuclear power plant or by converting thorium into nuclear fuel.
Critics of the bill see it as another attempt by Ohio lawmakers to favor a particular form of power generation. They are also concerned about the possible lack of transparency with state economic development spending. Much of state spending is currently handled by a group that is not subject to the public records law of Ohio. The Ohio Nuclear Free Network said the bill was a “radioactive taxpayer subsidy.”
HB 434 would establish an Ohio nuclear development authority with members being appointed by the governor after a nomination process resembling that of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The new nuclear authority would be inside the Department of Development of Ohio.
Dick Stein is a Republican representative for Norwalk and a sponsor of the bill. He said, “We want a voice to bring projects here to Ohio.” Ohio does not have a national laboratory or other consolidated entity to go after contracts for nuclear power development. Although there are potential suppliers in the state for such contracts. The bill might bring jobs and future economic development to the state. He also pointed out that the technology would not emit carbon dioxide.
The nuclear authority envisioned by the current bill would seek authority from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or the Department of Energy (DoE) for the development of advanced nuclear technology. It would also promote commercialization of that technology which could include the manufacture of components to treat, store and dispose of spent nuclear fuel. The nuclear authority would grant “priority to projects that reduce nuclear waste and produce isotopes.”
A molten salt nuclear reactor operated at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the 1960s. Elysium Industries is a New York company working on an updated version of molten salt technology. It claims on its website that its reactor could run on spent nuclear fuel, depleted uranium or a mixture of uranium and/or converted thorium ore for up to ten thousand years. Ed Pheil is the chief technology officer of Elysium Industries. He urged Ohio lawmakers to pass HB 434. The process also allows for the extraction of medical isotopes said the bill supporters.
Jason Stephens is the Republican representative of Kitts Hill. He asked Williams Thesling, eGeneration executive chairman, “Is it fair to say that HB 434 would help cure cancer?” Thesling responded “Yeah.”
Sarah Spence is the executive director of the Ohio Conservative Energy Forum. She testified in favor of the bill. The group supports energy innovation in Ohio. It aims to promote an all-of-the-above strategy. Nonetheless, the group would have concerns if in practice the bill were used to subsidize one or two companies at the expense of competitors.
Please read Part 2 next