Nuclear ban remains

An attempt to lift the state's ban on new nuclear power plants failed when a senator pulled his bill that nuclear supporters were attempting to amend.

The action came on the Senate floor Wednesday on an amendment by Sen. Ray Vandeveer, R-Forest Lake, that would have gone far beyond just lifting the moratorium. It would have required the state to find a site for a new plant.

Sen. Steve Murphy, DFL-Red Wing, criticized environmentalists, who oppose new nuclear plants.

"From a working person's standpoint, I am offended by some of the things that the environmental community has said about nuclear power," Murphy said. "They have trashed an industry that should not have been trashed. ... We have demonized nuclear power. I am sick and tired of it."

But Sen. Ellen Anderson, DFL-St. Paul, did not like Murphy's words: "All the charges you just made against the environmental community are entirely unjustified and inappropriate. ... I don't think we need to bring anger and bitterness into this discussion."

Sen. Yvonne Prettner Solon, DFL-Duluth, said Vandeveer's amendment would make a decision too quickly, especially in a time when no one has requested that a new nuclear plant be built.

Tags: prairie island nuclear plant, new, minnesota, politics