Michigan could study building more nuclear facilities under a plan advancing in the state legislature.
The Michigan Senate is considering the proposal after it was approved by the House of Representatives Thursday, May 19. It would have the state hire an outside firm to complete a feasibility study on the pros and cons of expanding nuclear energy.
The bill’s sponsor is Republican Representative Graham Filler of DeWitt.
“Personally, I'm a big fan of nuclear energy," Filler said. "Clean, emission-free, safe, reliable. And just be aware we have coal plants in Michigan that are going to be taken offline soon, and that baseload will be quickly lost.”
Speaking during a committee hearing last month, he says a study is especially urgent because a company plans to close the Palisades nuclear plant along Lake Michigan by the end of May.
“One of my personal goals to make Michigan a key nuclear energy state," Filler said. "But what does that mean really, I want to attract researchers, I want to track more labs, nuclear manufacturing. I want that all but right now, I'll just settle for a very important study.”
The Palisades is one of three nuclear power plants in Michigan and Governor Gretchen Whitmer is seeking federal funding to keep it open.
Although nuclear power generation does NOT directly emit the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming, some environmentalists worry about toxic nuclear waste.
The bill does not include a funding source for the study, which would need to be completed within 18 months.