Bill Text: MI SCR0006 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to appropriate funds from the Nuclear Waste Fund for the establishment of a permanent repository for high-level nuclear waste or reimburse electric utility customers that paid into the fund.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-04-20 - Referred To Secretary For Record [SCR0006 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-SCR0006-Engrossed.html
Senators Proos, Booher, Robertson, Jones, Pavlov, Marleau, Zorn, Colbeck, Emmons, Schmidt and MacGregor offered the following concurrent resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 6.
A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to appropriate funds from the Nuclear Waste Fund for the establishment of a permanent repository for high-level nuclear waste or reimburse electric utility customers that paid into the fund.
Whereas, The nuclear power industry needs a permanent repository for high-level nuclear waste produced by reactors. Nuclear power plays a vital role in meeting our nation's current and future energy needs. However, the failure to construct a permanent repository severely impedes efforts to construct new power plants to provide this clean and reliable base load power; and
Whereas, Over the last thirty years, the nuclear power industry and its customers have paid the federal government billions of dollars to construct a permanent repository. Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, the U.S. Congress established the Nuclear Waste Fund to collect money for the repository. Revenue to the fund came from mandatory fees assessed on all nuclear energy. Since 1983, customers of Michigan electric utilities alone have paid $812 million into the fund for construction of the repository; and
Whereas, A permanent repository for high-level nuclear waste has not been established and constructed. More than 2,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel from power plants continue to accumulate at temporary, and potentially vulnerable, sites across the nation, adding to the more than 70,000 metric tons already stored at these sites; and
Whereas, The Nuclear Waste Fund contains a substantial balance for establishment of the repository. While fee collection was suspended as of May 16, 2014, the fund still contains a balance of over $31 billion for the express purpose of supporting radioactive waste disposal activities. It is imperative that Congress meet its obligation to the nuclear power industry and U.S. citizens that paid into this fund; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to appropriate funds from the Nuclear Waste Fund for the establishment of a permanent repository for high-level nuclear waste or reimburse electric utility customers that paid into the fund; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
