Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research | BILL ANALYSIS |
Technology & Economic Development Committee |
SSB 5113
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
Brief Description: Requiring the department of commerce to coordinate and advance the siting and manufacturing of small modular reactors in the state to meet future energy supply, environmental, and energy security needs.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Energy, Environment & Telecommunications (originally sponsored by Senator Brown).
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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Hearing Date: 3/25/15
Staff: Nikkole Hughes (786-7156).
Background:
Washington State Energy Office.
The State Energy Office, located in the Department of Commerce, was established by the Legislature in 1996 to provide energy policy support, analysis, and information to the Legislature, the Governor, and other state agencies. The powers and duties of the State Energy Office include the following:
prepare and update contingency plans for implementation in the event of energy shortages or emergencies;
coordinate federal energy programs appropriate for state-level implementation;
develop energy policy recommendations; and
serve as the official state agency responsible for coordinating implementation of the State Energy Strategy.
Small Modular Reactors.
Small modular reactors (SMR) are factory-fabricated reactors that can be transported by truck or by rail to a power site and are smaller in size than current generation base-load plants. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, none of the existing SMR concepts to date have been designed, licensed, or constructed.
Nuclear Power Plant Siting.
The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) coordinates all evaluation and licensing steps for siting certain energy facilities, as well as specifies the conditions of construction and operation. The EFSEC's siting authority extends over nuclear power plants of any size and thermal electric power plants with a generating capacity of 350 megawatts or greater.
Summary of Bill:
The powers and duties of the State Energy Office are expanded to include coordination and advancement of the siting and manufacturing of SMRs in the state to meet future energy supply, environmental, and energy security needs.
"Small modular reactor" means a scalable nuclear power plant using reactors that each have a gross power output no greater than 300 megawatts electric, where each reactor is designed for factory manufacturing and ease of transport.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.