Mar 25 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Dennis Lien Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.



The Minnesota Senate entertained another effort Wednesday to lift a ban on new nuclear power-plant projects in the state. But unlike last year's successful vote, this attempt fizzled.

A solar-energy bill was pulled by its chief sponsor before senators could vote on either of two proposed amendments that would lift the ban but also would include other stipulations.

The effort, which resulted in an hourlong debate on the merits of nuclear energy, was expected after another proposal to lift the controversial ban was pulled in a Senate committee earlier this month when it was saddled with what its sponsor considered unreasonable conditions.

This time, Sen. Ray Vandeveer, R-Forest Lake, proposed lifting the 16-year-old ban and taking several steps to construct a new plant. Those included creating a seven-member nuclear-power design commission that would have to pick a plant site by July 2011 or have the governor and legislative energy committees do it.

 "What this does is put a welcome mat out," Vandeveer said.

As he did in the earlier committee session, Sen. John Doll, DFL-Burnsville, then offered an amendment that, while lifting the ban, applied numerous conditions, including protecting ratepayers from immediate construction costs and overruns and ensuring a federal repository is available first to take highly radioactive waste.

The bill that Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, pulled from consideration would clear the way for a large solar-energy-generating

project north of Rochester. One of its co-sponsors is Sen. David Senjem, the Republican minority leader from Rochester.

"Obviously, we're very disappointed," said Sparks, adding that he hopes to bring his bill back after seeking assurances from Senjem that Republicans won't try to add nuclear-power language to it. "I think this is such an important project for him. We need to move forward on it."

Another co-sponsor, Sen. Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester, bemoaned the attempt to use the solar-energy bill as a vehicle to advance nuclear power.

"This is the wrong place to have the discussion," Lynch said. "At stake is a very large energy project that benefits the entire Midwest."

Last year, the Senate surprised observers when it voted to lift the nuclear ban by adding an amendment to a larger energy bill. That approach failed in the House, setting the stage for the additional attempts this year.

Dennis Lien can be reached at 651-228-5588.

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