HB 236

This bill prohibits the importation, disposal, or storage of high-level radioactive waste (including spent nuclear fuel) in areas of Texas designated as "critical energy infrastructure zones." The bill requires the commission to establish criteria and procedures for designating these zones in counties that meet certain energy production thresholds - specifically those with more than 100 megawatts of installed solar or wind generation capacity, 10 million barrels of annual oil production, or 2 billion MCF of annual natural gas production. Once designated as a critical energy infrastructure zone, an area remains protected from radioactive waste activities until the commission removes the designation through established procedures, effectively creating buffer zones between Texas's major energy production areas and potential nuclear waste storage sites.