Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

Vermont House Bill H0287 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	BILL AS INTRODUCED H.287
2	2	2025 Page 1 of 4
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5	5	VT LEG #379517 v.5
6	6	H.287 1
7	7	Introduced by Representatives Hooper of Burlington, Bosch of Clarendon, 2
8	8	Coffin of Cavendish, Dobrovich of Williamstown, Gregoire of 3
9	9	Fairfield, Harrison of Chittenden, Hooper of Randolph, 4
10	10	Morgan, M. of Milton, Morrissey of Bennington, Mrowicki of 5
11	11	Putney, Page of Newport City, Pinsonault of Dorset, and Winter 6
12	12	of Ludlow 7
13	13	Referred to Committee on 8
14	14	Date: 9
15	15	Subject: Public service; energy; nuclear energy 10
16	16	Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 11
17	17	Secretary to conduct feasibility study of reintroducing nuclear power 12
18	18	generation in Vermont. 13
19	19	An act relating to a consortium on nuclear power feasibility 14
20	20	It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 15
21	21	Sec. 1. VERMONT SMALL NUCLEAR CONSORTIUM 16
22	22	(a) Creation. On or before August 1, 2025, in order to assist in reaching the 17
23	23	State’s climate goals and to provide for economic development opportunities, 18
24	24	the Secretary of Administration shall convene the Vermont Small Nuclear 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.287
25	25	2025 Page 2 of 4
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28	28	VT LEG #379517 v.5
29	29	Consortium to identify the obstacles to constructing small modular reactors in 1
30	30	Vermont, including those in State and federal law. 2
31	31	(b) Membership. The Consortium shall have members appointed as 3
32	32	follows: 4
33	33	(1) the Secretary of Administration or designee; 5
34	34	(2) two current members of the House of Representatives, each from 6
35	35	separate political parties, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House; 7
36	36	(3) two current members of the Senate, each from separate political 8
37	37	parties, who shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees; 9
38	38	(4) a representative from an environmental organization, who shall be 10
39	39	appointed by the Secretary of Administration; 11
40	40	(5) representatives from at least three different electric distribution 12
41	41	utilities, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Administration; 13
42	42	(6) a representative from the State Treasurer’s Office; and 14
43	43	(7) any person who participated in the prior Vermont Nuclear 15
44	44	Consortium. 16
45	45	(c) Powers and duties. The Consortium shall: 17
46	46	(1) review reasons why the prior nuclear generation facility closed, what 18
47	47	obstacles and opportunities exist in both State and federal law, and what 19
48	48	practical issues may exist that would prevent or facilitate a new facility from 20
49	49	opening; 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.287
50	50	2025 Page 3 of 4
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53	53	VT LEG #379517 v.5
54	54	(2) hear from a variety of stakeholders on this issue, including 1
55	55	representatives of relevant State agencies, representatives from developers, and 2
56	56	proponents of small modular reactors; and 3
57	57	(3) examine financial resources available to facilitate the construction of 4
58	58	small nuclear reactors. 5
59	59	(d) Assistance. The Consortium shall have the assistance of the relevant 6
60	60	State agencies and may hire a consultant to assist the Consortium. 7
61	61	(e) Compensation and reimbursement. 8
62	62	(1) For attendance at meetings during adjournment of the General 9
63	63	Assembly, a legislative member of the Consortium serving in the legislator’s 10
64	64	capacity as a legislator shall be entitled to per diem compensation and 11
65	65	reimbursement of expenses pursuant to 2 V.S.A. § 23 for not more than five 12
66	66	meetings in fiscal year 2026. 13
67	67	(2) Other members of the Consortium who are not otherwise 14
68	68	compensated by their employer shall be entitled to per diem compensation and 15
69	69	reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more 16
70	70	than five meetings in fiscal year 2026. 17
71	71	(3) The payments under this subsection shall be made from monies 18
72	72	appropriated by the General Assembly. 19
73	73	(f) Report. On or before August 1, 2026, the Consortium shall submit a 20
74	74	written report to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, the 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.287
75	75	2025 Page 4 of 4
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78	78	VT LEG #379517 v.5
79	79	House Committee on Energy and Digital Infrastructure, and the Governor with 1
80	80	a summary of the feasibility study and recommendations for next steps, 2
81	81	including any legislative action needed. 3
82	82	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION 4
83	83	In fiscal year 2026, $23,000.00 is appropriated from the General Fund to the 5
84	84	Secretary of Administration for the compensation for Consortium members 6
85	85	and to hire a consultant to assist the work of the Vermont Small Nuclear 7
86	86	Consortium. 8
87	87	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 9
88	88	This act shall take effect on passage. 10