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