Senate votes to throw out moratorium on nuclear plant construction
The Senate today (April 2) voted to remove a moratorium on nuclear plant construction in Minnesota.
The amendment passed the Senate on a 42 to 24 vote after some of the best debate seen on the Senate floor this session.
Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Redwing, who has the Prairie Island nuclear power plant in his district, spoke of the perceived safety of nuclear cask storage at Prairie Island.
“You can walk up and hug these casks,” he said.
Sen. Amy Koch, R-Buffalo, whose parents live minutes from the Monticello nuclear power plant, spoke of removing the moratorium as the starting point of discussions on nuclear power.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty supports the removal of the construction ban.
A House committee recently voted down a bill in committee that would have removed the ban.
