HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 94-13RESOLUTION NO. 94-13
SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO ALLOW FOR THE TEMPORARY STORAGE OF SPENT
FUEL BY NORTHERN STATES POWER AT THEIR PRAIRIE ISLAND NUCLEAR POWER
PLANT
WHEREAS, Northern State's Power Company's Prairie Island Power
Plant has produced safe, low cost electricity for more than twenty
years and consistently ranks as one of the lowest cost, safest,
most productive and efficient nuclear plants in the country; and
WHEREAS, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has repeatedly
recognized the Prairie Island Plant as one of the best run nuclear
facilities in the country; and
WHEREAS, if the Prairie Island Power Plant is forced to close, the
loss of this safe and low cost base load twelve-hundred mega watt
electric generating plant would cost not only NSP customers more in
higher rates, but remove an efficient power source from the Mid-
Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP) and thereby adversely affect all
upper midwest electric consumers; and
WHEREAS, the Prairie Island Power Plant contributes substantial
annual rea] estate tax payments, thereby reducing and in some cases
eliminating traditional educational and local government aids, and
the shut down of this plant with resulting lost tax base would cost
the State and other cities and school districts millions of dollars
in increased State-Aid payments thereby affecting adversely the
vast majority of Minnesota taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, the Prairie Island Power Plant will reach maximum capacity
of its temporary storage facility for spent fue! in 1994 and -all
necessary permits and approvals from State and federal regulatory
agencies have been obtained so as to allow for the temporary
storage of older spent fuel in dry casks, a method safely utilized
by at least six other nuclear power plants; and
WHEREAS, the Prairie Island Power Plant is located within the City
of Red Wing and the City and the vast majority of residents
strongly favor approval of State legislation to permit this
temporary spent fuel storage and further that the City has
requested the support of other cities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of
Columbia Heights that it supports the City of Red Wing's efforts to
seek approval in the Legislature to allow on-site temporary storage
of spent nuclear fuel from the Prairie Island Plant until the U.S.
Department of Energy meets its obligations to complete a national
high-level permanent waste repository.
Resolution No. 94-13
page 2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Administrator is hereby
authorized and directed to forward a signed copy of this resolution
to the Governor and State legislators representing the City in the
State Legislature and in like manner notify the City of Red Wing of
the City's adoption of this resolution.
Adopted by the City Council on the 28th day of February, 1994.
Offered by:
Seconded by:
Roll call:
Nawrocki
Jolly
All ayes
(City Clerk-Treasurer)
yayor ~'o~ph Sturdevant