SF 718

This bill removes Minnesota's current prohibition on issuing certificates of need for new nuclear power plants, effectively allowing the construction of new nuclear-powered electric generating facilities in the state for the first time since the ban was enacted. The legislation strikes the existing statutory language that explicitly forbids the Public Utilities Commission from approving certificates of need for new nuclear plant construction, while retaining provisions related to spent nuclear fuel storage for facilities seeking license extensions. By eliminating this regulatory barrier, the bill opens the door for potential nuclear energy development in Minnesota as part of the state's future energy portfolio.