Several Republican lawmakers want to lift restrictions on building nuclear power plants in Wisconsin.
Current state law blocks the development of nuclear power plants unless they are cost effective and until a national repository for radioactive waste is created. State Representative Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) says that’s stopping the exploration of a viable energy source and the so-called moratorium should be lifted.
Huebsch says the restrictions on new construction are no longer as big of an issue. He says developers should be able to at least explore the option of nuclear power.
The West Salem Republican says current nuclear technology produces much less waste as well, so there doesn’t need to be as strong of a focus on the creation of a national dumping site for spent radioactive fuel.
The proposal has faced strong opposition in the past from Democrats, along with Governor Jim Doyle. State Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison), who chairs the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, says there’s very little chance of the proposal being taken up this session.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:15)
