Urges President of United States and United States Congress to annually financially compensate every local unit of government in United States where there is located decommissioned nuclear power plant in which spent nuclear fuel is stored.
Currently, there are 17 commercial nuclear reactors that have been shut down, leaving local governments in a precarious position. They suffer from loss of property tax revenue which results from the inability to redevelop the land. The resolution emphasizes that local governments should receive annual payments based on the amount of spent nuclear fuel stored, which was originally set at $15 per kilogram. The absence of a federal nuclear waste repository exacerbates the economic challenges faced by these communities.
SCR77, a concurrent resolution from New Jersey, urges the President and Congress to enact legislation that financially compensates local governments where decommissioned nuclear power plants are located and where spent nuclear fuel is stored. The resolution reflects a continuing concern over the lack of federal action regarding the disposal of nuclear waste and the financial strain it places on affected municipalities. The proposed compensation is aimed at offsetting the economic burden these communities face as they cannot repurpose the contaminated sites where the nuclear plants once operated.
While the resolution is largely seen as a necessary action to support municipalities, there is tension regarding its implications. Proponents, including state lawmakers, argue that compensation is essential for local governments who effectively act as long-term storage sites for nuclear waste. However, critics may contend that this approach does not address the underlying issue of waste disposal, nor does it provide a clear timeline or certainty for when a federal repository might be developed. Several attempts at similar legislation, such as the Stranded Nuclear Waste Accountability Act introduced in 2017, have failed to gain traction, highlighting the challenges of addressing nuclear waste management at the federal level.