DENVER – On Thursday afternoon, anti-science Democrats killed Senate Bill 22-073 proposed by Senator Bob Rankin (R-Carbondale), which would’ve initiated a feasibility study on the prospect of bringing small, modular nuclear reactors to the State of Colorado. Despite support from the scientific community – and many in the environmental field – the bill was killed on a party-line, 3 to 2 vote.
“Democrats talk a big game on cutting carbon emissions,” said Senator Rankin. “But when solutions present themselves – such as investigating nuclear energy – they fail to take even the first step forward. As other states begin lifting their moratoriums, such as West Virginia, or actually initiating small modular reactor projects, such as Wyoming, Colorado is left behind. Climate change may be real, but the Democrats’ concerns about it are as fake as can be.”
Democrats stood in contrast to the science. John Parsons of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology wrote that, “The role of government will be critical if we are to take advantage of the economic opportunity and low-carbon potential that nuclear has to offer.” Jacopo Buongiorno, also of M.I.T., wrote that, “Incorporating new policy and business models, as well as innovations in construction that may make deployment of cost-effective nuclear power plants more affordable, could enable nuclear energy to help meet the growing global demand for energy generation while decreasing emissions to address climate change.”
Democrats stood in contrast to the people. The most recent polling on Americans’ interest in nuclear energy shows that a majority of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents support nuclear power (59% of the total population).
Democrats stood in contrast to the Biden Administration as well. John Kerry, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, said that “President Biden has outlined a plan to establish the United States as a leader in climate and clean energy innovation by funding the procurement and demonstration of advanced nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors to create good-paying jobs and reinvigorate local economies. SMRs could be a game-changer for climate change efforts. SMRs offer many advantages owing to their small size, flexibility, and complementarity to renewables.”
In an opinion editorial published Tuesday morning, Judi Greenwald, the executive director of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, stated that, “An essential first step to adopting advanced nuclear energy is for state policymakers, communities and stakeholders to understand the benefits of nuclear innovation…Colorado can start exploring this promising opportunity with a feasibility study for SMRs, as proposed in SB22-073.”
“Nuclear support has become a bipartisan issue in Washington for the first time in close to 40 years,” said Arthur Hyde of Segra Capital Management during his testimony. “Representatives on both sides of the aisle are beginning to understand the importance of investing in our nuclear future and are acting with a sense of urgency.”
“A variety of potential advanced reactor technologies are currently under development by companies across the United States and will be ready for commercial deployment by the end of this decade,” said Dr. Patrick White of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance during his testimony.
“Ultimately, I believe that Senate Bill 22-073 will not only put Colorado on the forefront of clean energy innovation, but it also opens the door for significant investment in this beautiful state,” said Christopher Barnard, National Policy Director of the American Conservation Coalition. “To me, that sounds like a win-win for both the people and for the planet.”
SB22-073 had earned the support of organizations such as the American Conservation Coalition, Americans for Nuclear Energy, the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, Generation Atomic, the Colorado Rural Electric Association, and others. SB22-073 was revealed as part of the Senate and House Republicans “Commitment to Colorado” legislative package in January.