Nuclear Power Advancement Bill (Law'd)

[MasterJedi]

Nuclear Power Advancement Bill

Section 1: Atlasia recognizes that necessary steps need to be taken to reduce our energy dependence and protect the environment, and that nuclear energy helps us to accomplish both goals.

Section 2: The federal government of Atlasia will subsidize the construction of nuclear power plants if energy providers replace existing coal, oil or natural gas power plants with equal capacity by the time new nuclear plants go into service.

Section 3: The Atlasian government will fund 20% of the construction of any nuclear power plants built under the conditions of this program, and will grant a commercial tax reduction totalling 25% per annum for 10 years to the applicable energy provider.

Section 4: This program will cost a maximum of $60 billion in direct subsidies (excluding potential losses due to tax cuts). Tax breaks will still be awarded after this point is reached, but no further direct subsidies will be given.
Spon: Sen. Franzl

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I don't like section 2.

[Franzl]

     I don't like section 2.

The subsidies....or the fact that they're based on replacing existing power plants....is the problem?

[Associate Justice PiT]

     I don't like section 2.

The subsidies....or the fact that they're based on replacing existing power plants....is the problem?

     I don't like subsidies in general. They, in my view, undermine free market competition. I guess it's tolerable in this instance since only the construction of the plants will be subsidized, though.

[Purple State]

I cannot vote for this bill without a provision ensuring the safe and speedy disposal or storage of all nuclear wastes away from areas of population.

[HappyWarrior]

I cannot vote for this bill without a provision ensuring the safe and speedy disposal or storage of all nuclear wastes away from areas of population.

I completely agree with this statement.

[Franzl]

That's an acceptable and understandable demand. I wouldn't mind adding such a provision myself....but perhaps PS or Happy would like to offer an amendment that suits their wishes?

[Purple State]

That's an acceptable and understandable demand. I wouldn't mind adding such a provision myself....but perhaps PS or Happy would like to offer an amendment that suits their wishes?

Ah, passing the buck?

I'll try to work up something tonight. HW can feel free to start something and I can add on later, as well.

[Purple State]

Friendly Amendment:

5. Subsidies and grants for the construction of nuclear facilities shall be withheld until such a time as plans are provided by the contracted company for the removal or safe storage of all nuclear wastes from the proposed facility deemed harmful to the public. Said disposal methods must be approved by the EPA. Wastes may not be stored within 25 miles of any Atlasian town of a population greater than 500 persons and may not be within 25 miles of the residence of 1,000 persons.


EDIT: Added the words "from that facility"

[Franzl]

That's fine, I accept.

[Frodo]

[From the gallery]

Will there be an amendment regarding the reprocessing of spent nuclear waste?  If we want to minimize the amount of nuclear waste that will be stored, this is the best way by which to do it. 

[afleitch]

There should be more specification with regards the site-ing of such plants. It may be easy to wind down a coal fired plant in a rustbelt coalseam but you can't simply replace it with a nuclear plant on the footprint left. Every power plant is site specific. It could in the short term be detrimental to our energy needs, though I'm now sure how that could be avoided.

[MasterJedi]

I hereby open up a final vote on the bill below. Pleae vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

Section 1: Atlasia recognizes that necessary steps need to be taken to reduce our energy dependence and protect the environment, and that nuclear energy helps us to accomplish both goals.

Section 2: The federal government of Atlasia will subsidize the construction of nuclear power plants if energy providers replace existing coal, oil or natural gas power plants with equal capacity by the time new nuclear plants go into service.

Section 3: The Atlasian government will fund 20% of the construction of any nuclear power plants built under the conditions of this program, and will grant a commercial tax reduction totalling 25% per annum for 10 years to the applicable energy provider.

Section 4: This program will cost a maximum of $60 billion in direct subsidies (excluding potential losses due to tax cuts). Tax breaks will still be awarded after this point is reached, but no further direct subsidies will be given.

5. Subsidies and grants for the construction of nuclear facilities shall be withheld until such a time as plans are provided by the contracted company for the removal or safe storage of all nuclear wastes from the proposed facility deemed harmful to the public. Said disposal methods must be approved by the EPA. Wastes may not be stored within 25 miles of any Atlasian town of a population greater than 500 persons and may not be within 25 miles of the residence of 1,000 persons.

Aye

[Purple State]

Aye

[Franzl]

Yeah, I'm sorry, I wanted to write an amendment myself to address what Frodo and Afleitch said.

I ask that people still vote AYE on this....I promise to write a new bill soon that will address these concerns.

I should have mentioned that I wanted to add something....


AYE

[Associate Justice PiT]

     Aye

[Smid]

Aye - but Afleitch's future Bill will also need to patch up the "25 miles of any town with 500 people and 25 miles of any town with 1000 people" since it's somewhat redundant.

[HappyWarrior]

AYE

This is based solely on Franzl's promise on a future bill to address concerns I myself hold.

[MasterJedi]

This bill has enough votes to pass. Senators now have 24 hours to change their votes.

[RI]

Aye, I guess, ftr.

[Bacon King]

abstain

[afleitch]

Aye.

[MasterJedi]

With 8 Ayes, 0 Nays and 1 Abstention this bill has passed. I hereby present it to the President for his signature.

[bgwah]

X President Bgwah

[Marokai Backbeat]

Wiki'd