Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GREGORY E. MYHRE
District 9 (Ocean)
Assemblyman BRIAN E. RUMPF
District 9 (Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen DePhillips, Auth, McClellan and Assemblywoman Fantasia
SYNOPSIS
Directs BPU to authorize construction and operation of micro-reactors.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning certain nuclear fission reactors and amending P.L.2026, c.42.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 9 of P.L.2026, c.42 is amended to read as follows:
9. Notwithstanding any provision of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to the contrary, the board, in consultation with the authority, is authorized to adopt immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law rules and regulations necessary to implement this act. The rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be effective for a period not to exceed 18 months following the date of filing and may thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the board in accordance with the requirements of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). The rules and regulations shall authorize the construction and operation of micro-reactors, advanced nuclear reactors with a power production capacity of 20 megawatts or less, in the State, so long as the micro-reactor’s design has been approved by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would amend the “Power NJ Act,” P.L.2026, c.42 (C. ) to direct the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to explicitly authorize the construction and operation of micro-reactors in the State. A micro-reactor is an advanced nuclear reactor with a power production capacity of 20 megawatts or less. The “Power NJ Act” effectively requires the BPU to authorize the construction and operation of advanced nuclear reactors, but it does not explicitly address micro-reactors. This bill would ensure that the rules and regulations adopted by the BPU to implement the “Power NJ Act” also authorize the construction and operation of micro-reactors.