Vermont S. 281: An act relating to the mitigation of systemic racism

Bill Text

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VT LEG #379041 v.4
S.281 1
Introduced by Senators Weeks, Beck, Bongartz, Chittenden, Collamore and 2
Norris 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Public service; energy; nuclear energy 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish a 7
committee to study the feasibility of constructing a nuclear power generation 8
facility in Vermont. 9
An act relating to the Zero-Carbon Nuclear Feasibility Study for Vermont 10
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 11
Sec. 1. VERMONT ZERO-CARBON NUCLEAR FEASIBILITY STUDY 12
(a) Creation. There is created the Nuclear Power Study Committee to 13
identify the obstacles to constructing a new nuclear energy generation facility 14
in Vermont, including those in State and federal law. 15
(b) Membership. The Study Committee shall have seven members 16
appointed as follows: 17
(1) the Chair of the Public Utility Commission or designee; 18
(2) a representative from the Vermont Electric Power Company; 19
(3) a representative from ISO New England Inc.; 20

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(4) two current members of the House of Representatives, each from 1
different political parties, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 2
and 3
(5) two current members of the Senate, each from different political 4
parties, who shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees. 5
(c) Powers and duties. The Study Committee shall: 6
(1) review reasons why the prior nuclear generation facility closed, what 7
obstacles exist in both State and federal law, and what practical issues may 8
exist that would prevent a new facility from opening; and 9
(2) hear from a variety of stakeholders on this issue, including 10
representatives of electric utilities, representatives from NextEra Energy, 11
representatives from the Nuclear Energy Institute, and representatives from the 12
U.S. Department of Energy. 13
(d) Assistance. The Study Committee shall have the administrative 14
assistance of the Office of Legislative Operations, the legal assistance of the 15
Office of Legislative Counsel, and the analytical assistance of the Joint Fiscal 16
Office. 17
(e) Meetings. 18
(1) The Office of Legislative Counsel shall call the first meeting of the 19
Study Committee to occur on or before July 31, 2026. 20

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(2) The Study Committee shall elect a chair from among its members at 1
the first meeting. 2
(3) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum. 3
(4) The Study Committee shall cease to exist on January 31, 2027. 4
(f) Report. On or before December 15, 2026, the Study Committee shall 5
submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and 6
Energy and the House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure with a 7
summary of the feasibility study and recommendations for next steps, 8
including any legislative action needed. 9
(g) Compensation and reimbursement. 10
(1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General 11
Assembly, a legislative member of the Study Committee serving in the 12
legislator’s capacity as a legislator shall be entitled to per diem compensation 13
and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 23 for not more than six 14
meetings in fiscal year 2027. 15
(2) Other members of the Study Committee who are not otherwise 16
compensated by their employer shall be entitled to per diem compensation and 17
reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more 18
than six meetings in fiscal year 2027. 19
(3) The payments under this subsection shall be made from monies 20
appropriated by the General Assembly or any grant funding received. 21

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VT LEG #379041 v.4
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 1
This act shall take effect on passage. 2