House panel advances bill to support nuclear power

A House subcommittee has approved a bill that nuclear power advocates say will help signal that Florida is supporting energy innovation.

The House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee advanced HB 1461 via a bipartisan unanimous vote.

“HB 1461 establishes a framework for licensing and regulation of advanced nuclear reactors, collectively small modular and micro reactors,” said Rep. Monique Miller, a Palm Bay Republican sponsoring the bill.

HB 1461 would give the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) the sole authority to regulate advanced nuclear reactors and require several state agencies to create certifications for laboratories using nuclear materials for researching and testing.

“There are a number of companies that are developing this technology. There’s kind of a technological race to see who’s going to master this first,” Miller said.

The PSC’s would be required to evaluate and approve designs for nuclear power reactors, create safety rules for the reactors’ operations as well as issue permits “in sufficient quantities” for nuclear power reactors’ research, design, testing, construction and operations.

The measure comes as Attorney General James Uthmeier is pushing Florida to turn to nuclear energy.

“Nuclear energy is the safest and most efficient form of baseload power generation. Yet, for 70 years, the unaccountable Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s red tape has prevented innovation and blocked attempts to make safe, affordable nuclear energy available to more Americans,” Uthmeier said in a statement this week.

“It’s past time for the NRC to align with President (Donald) Trump’s America First Agenda and unleash American energy dominance.”

Florida’s Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Protection would be charged with creating guidelines for nuclear facilities and advanced nuclear reactors to protect people’s health and the environment.

Both state agencies, along with the PSC, would also develop guidelines to certify “laboratories that perform analysis on nuclear materials for the purpose of researching, designing, testing, or otherwise developing technology for nuclear power plants,” the bill said.

Several supporters praised the bill.

“HB 1461 helps Florida take a more balanced and more secure approach to energy. To meet this growing demand while strengthening reliability, Florida needs safe, dependable, long-term energy solutions,” said Danielle Lindsey, the Florida Director for American Conservation Coalition Action.

Wednesday’s meeting was the bill’s first committee stop after being referred to three committees. A Senate companion bill (SB 1696) filed by Sen. Stan McClain has not been called to a vote yet.