(Learfield) – A new state-funded study is renewing debate over whether the state should lift its decades-old ban on new nuclear power plants. The study will examine the costs, benefits, and feasibility of new nuclear energy in Minnesota. Supporters say nuclear power could help the state reach its goal of carbon-free electricity by 2040.
Minnesota Rural Energy Association spokesperson Joe Miller says renewable sources and battery technology alone may not be enough to meet future energy demands.
But environmental groups are pushing back. Sierra Club North Star Chapter Director Margaret Levin says nuclear power is expensive, takes years to develop, and would divert attention from wind, solar, and energy storage. Study results are expected before lawmakers return to St. Paul in January.
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