Legislature(2019 - 2020)BUTROVICH 205
03/20/2020 03:30 PM Senate RESOURCES
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB130 | |
| SB160 | |
| HB16 | |
| SB194 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 160 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 16 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 194 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 130 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 194-ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTORS
4:49:20 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE announced that the final order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 194, "An Act relating to advanced nuclear
reactors."
[CSSB 194(CRA) was before the committee.]
4:49:36 PM
CODY GRUSSENDORF, Staff, Senator Bishop and the Community and
Regional Affairs Committee, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, explained that SB 194 seeks to ensure that advanced
nuclear reactor applications in Alaska receive the appropriate
level of State oversight. Current statutes allow for nuclear-
source development while providing high and thorough oversight
on top of the national oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC).
MR. GRUSSENDORF detailed that SB 194 has two parts; the first
part defines what advanced nuclear reactors are and the second
part reduces barriers to entry while leaving in the thorough
regulatory process. SB 194 would only apply to advanced nuclear
reactors which use state of the art safety mechanisms, have no
moving parts, and will never melt down. He said advanced nuclear
reactor technology is safe, and the next testifier will speak to
that.
He said current Alaska law requires the legislature to designate
the site of a nuclear facility. SB 194 would exempt that
requirement for advanced nuclear reactors defined in the bill
that generate less than 300 megawatts.
4:52:03 PM
MARCUS NICHOL, Senior Director, New Reactor Deployment, Nuclear
Energy Institute (NEI), Washington, DC, said advanced reactors
are maturing rapidly with possible deployment in Alaska. The NEI
expects two types of advanced nuclear reactor deployments for
commercial applications within the 2025 to 2030 timeframe.
He said the first type of advanced nuclear reactors are small
modular reactors with less than 300 megawatts of capacity. NEI
expects the NRC to approve the first design by September 2020
with the first reactor operating at the Idaho National
Laboratory (INL) in 2026. The reactor at the Idaho lab would be
a commercial reactor owned by Utah Associated Municipal Power
Systems (UAMPS).
MR. NICHOL said the other near-term type of advanced reactor is
the micro-reactor. Electrical capacity for micro-reactors is 1
to 10 megawatts with designation for remote-area deployment at
mines, defense facilities, or remote villages. Micro-reactors
can produce heat in addition to power. The first operating
license submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission occurred
March 2020. NEI anticipates the first demonstrational reactor
operating in 2023 and the first commercial deployment around
2026.
MR. NICHOL explained that micro-reactor development and
deployment is faster than other advanced reactors because of the
very small size. He said the Nuclear energy Institute expects
other advanced non-light water reactors to become available in
the future.
4:54:28 PM
MR. NICHOL said NEI expects advanced reactors to be cost
competitive when compared to typical diesel generators. NEI sees
micro-reactors being cost competitive in remote Arctic villages
at its highest cost range and in many markets around the
country, including islands, at its lower cost range.
He said the nuclear industry expects generating costs for Small
Modular Reactors (SMRs) to be competitive in the Lower 48
electrical grid market. Estimated cost per kilowatt for SMRs is
in the $0.05 to $0.06 range.
MR. NICHOLS said SB 194 is critical for Alaska to attract
advanced reactors. Private investment has spent over $1 billion
on developing advanced reactor designs. Many private investors
see nuclear as the answer to reducing carbon emissions and
improving living standards. The federal government is supporting
many of the advanced reactor designs through research and
development, design, and licensing, or in demonstrations. NEI
sees action from many states that are considering legislation to
welcome new nuclear into their states. One example is Idaho that
has passed resolutions and tax incentives for new nuclear and
that happens to be the state where there is an ongoing project
in the works. All the actions with advanced reactor designs are
strong indicators that help states standout as companies think
about their target markets. SB 194 is important as an indicator
that Alaska is open for business and welcoming to advanced
reactors by reducing unnecessary barriers that creates
investment uncertainty and risk.
4:57:44 PM
SENATOR COGHILL asked how long it takes for applications to go
through the NRC.
MR. NICHOL answered that historically it has taken about three
years. NEI expects the NRC review to be two years for micro-
reactors due to their smaller size and simplicity.
SENATOR COGHILL remarked that the NRC is generally geared toward
large reactors. He asked if NRC could make a mindset shift to
micro-reactors.
MR. NICHOL concurred that NRC regulations and experiences are
based on large, light-water reactors. However, they have been
preparing for advanced reactor designs for several years. NRC
has received special funding from Congress to prepare for
advanced reactor review and NEI believes the commission is
ready. NRC has addressed several technical issues where advanced
reactors are slightly different from the large, light-water
reactors.
5:00:10 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE opened public testimony and said it will remain
open for the next hearing.
5:00:28 PM
CHAIR MICCICHE held SB 194 in committee.