It’s
hard to believe the first three weeks of the 2015 legislative session are
already behind us. This week was a busy one and the pace of hearings on bills
picked up, with some measures actually moving the floor for a full vote.
My
focus this week was on energy issues, as several of my bills
dealing with hydro and nuclear power received hearings in committee. You can
read more about these bills in this newsletter.
While
there are many issues that get debated around Olympia, one topic has broad
bipartisan support for sure – Seahawks fever! The spirit of the 12th man (and
woman) was on full display as another week came to an end!
Thank
you for all your e-mails, letters and calls so far this year. Your feedback and
ideas are important as I represent you in the state Legislature. If there is
anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Go Hawks!
 Click to watch my second video update.
Small modular reactors should be part of our clean energy future
The best way to meet our energy needs while reducing
our carbon output is to use a balanced, all-of-the-above approach. Nuclear
power must be a part of that mix, and we as a state must take steps to make
sure we can compete for the jobs this growing industry will provide.
This week, the Energy, Environment and Telecommunications
Committee held hearings on several bills I introduced to expand the use of
nuclear technology:
-
Senate
Bill 5114, which would provide a sales-and-use tax incentive for the
production of small modular reactors, including costs related to construction
materials, machinery, and equipment.
-
Senate
Bill 5091, which would add nuclear power to the list of alternative-energy sources
eligible under the state’s clean-energy mandate.
- Senate
Bill 5093, creating a nuclear-education program aimed at helping science
educators teach nuclear science and technology. Under the bill, the nuclear-education
program would be administered by the director of the Washington State University
Energy Program.
-
Senate
Joint Memorial 8000, which requests that the federal government create a
permanent nuclear-waste repository.
SMRs are a part of a growing clean-energy field.
Each SMR plant produces 360 full-time plant-operation jobs at average annual
salaries of $85,000.
Supporting the growth of this industry in our
state could also mean thousands of good-paying, family-wage jobs in
construction, manufacturing and other related high-tech fields. But if we don’t
act now, other states and countries are poised to take the lead in SMR
development and Washingtonians will be at risk of getting left behind.
Bills to modernize the state's clean energy mandate
 James Gaston of Energy Northwest and Deb Bone-Harris with Franklin PUD testify in support Senate Bills 5089 and 5090, which would expand the definition of “renewable resource” to include electricity generated by small modular reactors.
On Thursday, the public weighed in on three of
my bills to expand the options
for utilities seeking to meet the state’s clean-energy mandates.
- Senate
Bill 5089 would revise the definition of “eligible renewable resource” in
the Energy Independence Act to include electricity from small modular reactors
that begin operating in 2020 or later.
- Senate
Bill 5090 would create an alternative path for compliance with the EIA’s
mandates. Under the bill, utilities that invest 2 percent of their annual
retail revenue on renewable resources, renewable credits, or both, while also
acquiring power from modular reactors, would be in compliance with their annual
target.
-
Senate
Bill 5094, would include federal incremental hydropower in the definition
of “renewable resource.” Efficiency changes made to hydro projects allow more
electricity to be produced from the same amount of water without any new
diversions or impoundments.
Currently, the I-937 law only recognizes
hydro-efficiency improvements associated with projects owned by a qualified
utility. Under my bill that recognition would be extended to incremental electricity
marketed by the federal Bonneville Power Administration.
As always, I value
hearing directly from you. I am here to be your voice and your feedback on bills
before the Senate is very important to me.
If you would like to contact
me please write, phone, e-mail, or stop by if you’re in the Olympia area during
the next few weeks. It remains my honor to serve you in the Washington State
Senate.
Sincerely,
 Sharon Brown
State Senator
8th District
|
