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Tim Pugmire
St. Paul, Minn.

Senate gives initial OK to new nuclear plants

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he Minnesota Senate has voted to repeal the state's ban on building new nuclear power plants.

Senators voted 42 to 24 today to add the repeal to a larger energy conservation and utility regulations bill. The author of the amendment,

State Sen. Steve Dille (R-Dassel), says the state needs a balance of energy sources. Dille argues that nuclear power is cheaper and cleaner than other sources of energy.

"And it's clear to me that this is one of the options we have to have on the table in order to meet our energy needs for the future in a cost effective way, and also to take into consideration the climate change issues that we are facing," said Dille.

There are no proposals to build a third nuclear plant in Minnesota, but a dozen bills were introduced this session to try to lift the moratorium. None advanced.

Opponents of lifting the repeal say there are still too many questions about the safe disposal of nuclear waste.