The Missouri Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee approved legislation (Senate Bill 48) Tuesday that would allow Ameren and other utilities to pass on to customers the $45 million cost of a site permit for a new nuclear plant in Callaway County.
The measure passed out of committee with a 7-2 vote.
Irl Scissors, director of Missourians for a Balanced Energy Future, a pro-nuclear energy group that supported the legislation, lauded the bill's passage.
"Thousands of people from across the state have made their voices heard and demonstrated to our lawmakers just how serious Missouri is about keeping nuclear power - and the jobs, economic investment and clean, affordable energy that come with it - an option for our state," he said. "... Now the responsibility for moving this bill forward falls to Senate Pro Tem Rob Mayer, who has previously delayed this legislation. We urge him to allow this bill to have a fair and open debate and an up or down vote on the Senate floor - and to bring it to a vote soon. Without action from Senate Pro Tem Mayer, nuclear power will no longer be an option in Missouri - we urge him to act in favor of this critical legislation.?
Some consumer advocates and business customers blasted the measure, saying it does not contain enough protections against cost overruns and lacks any guarantee that a plant will be built.
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