S1384

An Act establishing a Nuclear Power Advisory Commission.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. (1) There is established a Nuclear Power Advisory Commission in the Department of Environmental Protection, to conduct a study and prepare a report on the role that nuclear energy power plants, including small-scale nuclear energy power plants, should play in the State’s energy future.

(2) In carrying out its responsibilities, the commission shall consider:

(a) the role nuclear energy generation plays in the State’s energy portfolio, including the value of nuclear energy generation as a reliable, zero-emission source of energy and the value of nuclear energy generation in meeting the goals of the “Global Warming Response Act,” P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37 et seq.), including the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050;

(b) the impact the closure of existing, licensed, and operating nuclear energy power plants within and outside the State would have on the reliability of the energy grid, the State’s air quality, and the price of electricity;

(d) actions by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other states concerning nuclear energy generation.

(3) No later than 18 months after the effective date of this section, the commission shall prepare and submit to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a report summarizing its study and containing recommendations on the role of nuclear energy power plants in the State’s energy portfolio.

b. The Nuclear Power Advisory Commission shall consist of seven members, as follows:

(1) the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio;

(2) the President of the Board of Public Utilities, or the president's designee, who shall serve ex officio;

(3) the President of the New Jersey Utilities Association, or the president’s designee, who shall serve as officio; and

(4) four members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate as follows:

(a) one member representing the State’s nuclear power plants;

(b) two members from the State’s academic community with expertise, knowledge, or experience with energy policy issues; and

(c) one member from Statewide environmental organizations with expertise, knowledge, or experience in energy policy issues.

The terms of the public members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate shall expire at the end of the Governor’s term in office.

c. Any vacancy in the membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

d. The commission shall organize as soon as possible after the appointment of its members and shall elect a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members, and a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

e. The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson or the commissioner or when requested by any four members of the commission.

f. A majority of the voting members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of commission business.

g. The Department of Environmental Protection shall provide primary staff support to the commission.

h. The commission shall be entitled to the assistance and service of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.

2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire 30 days after the submittal of the report required pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of this act.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a Nuclear Power Advisory Commission (commission), charged with conducting a study and preparing a report on the role that nuclear energy power plants, including small-scale nuclear energy power plants, should play in the State’s energy future.

The commission would consist of seven members, as follows:

(1) the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee, ex officio;

(2) the President of the Board of Public Utilities, or the president's designee, ex officio;

(3) the President of the New Jersey Utilities Association, or the president’s designee, ex officio; and

(4) four members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate as follows:

(a) one member representing the State’s nuclear power plants;

(b) two members from the State’s academic community with expertise, knowledge, or experience with energy policy issues; and

(c) one member from Statewide environmental organizations with expertise, knowledge, or experience in energy policy issues.

In carrying out its responsibilities, the commission would consider:

(1) the role nuclear energy generation plays in the State’s energy portfolio, including the value of nuclear energy generation as a reliable, zero-emission source of energy and the value of nuclear energy generation in meeting the goals of the “Global Warming Response Act,” P.L.2007, c.112 (C.26:2C-37 et seq.), including the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050;

(2) the impact the closure of existing, licensed, and operating nuclear energy power plants within and outside the State would have on the reliability of the energy grid, the State’s air quality, and the price of electricity;

(3) emerging technologies in reactor designs and the viability of small-scale nuclear energy power plants; and

(4) actions by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other states concerning nuclear energy generation.

The commission would expire 30 days after the submittal of the report required by the bill.