Storage Options For Waste Key as North Dakota Lawmakers Study Nuclear Energy

(Photo courtesy of Xcel Energy via the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – Nuclear energy is at least a decade away from coming to North Dakota, but the lawmakers studying its feasibility are already researching potential storage options for radioactive waste.

While North Dakota has no nuclear power plants, the U.S. Air Force maintains more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads in the north central area of the state, said Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot.

Hogue suggested a risk assessment to determine whether there is more or less danger to nearby populations from these nuclear weapons, operational nuclear power plants and long-term storage of radioactive waste, to help communities better understand the relative risks. “I would be interested to know,” Hogue said.

Current law prohibits any storage of high level radioactive waste in the state. Representatives of Nucleon Energy, the Canadian nuclear power developer the state hired as a consultant, said that would have to change if policymakers hope to encourage nuclear development.