HB2774

THE CONTEXT: Certificates of Environmental Compatibility The Arizona Corporation Commission (Commission)'s Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee (Committee) was created to provide a single forum for the resolution of all matters concerning the location of electric generating plants and transmission lines in open processes for all interested and affected parties to participate in relevant decisions (Laws 1971, Chapter 67, section 1). The Committee has jurisdiction over proposed electrical generating plants and above ground transmission lines that meet certain criteria.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would prohibit certain counties from regulating the construction or operation of a small modular nuclear reactor if the small modular reactor is collocated with a large industrial energy user that received all applicable zoning entitlements, permits a utility, after providing written notice to the Commission, to replace an existing thermal electric generating unit with a small modular nuclear reactor without seeking a new CEC and without holding a hearing if certain criteria are met, and allow a utility to construct a new small nuclear reactor without filing for or receiving a CEC if the new small modular reactor is colocated with a large industrial energy user.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to set a clear legal boundary for small modular reactors instead of leaving the conduct unaddressed. It would prohibit certain counties from regulating the construction or operation of a small modular nuclear reactor if the small modular reactor is collocated with a large industrial energy user that received all applicable zoning entitlements, and would also permits a utility, after providing written notice to the Commission, to replace an existing thermal electric generating unit with a small modular nuclear reactor without seeking a new CEC and without holding a hearing if certain criteria are met, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.