MN SF2951

Public Utilities Commission must calculate estimated costs for long-term storage of spent nuclear waste on-site in Minnesota for 200 years after plant decommissioning, including operation, maintenance, transportation preparation, and dry canister storage packaging costs.

Presumption that spent nuclear waste will be repackaged once during storage; commission must report estimates and assumptions to governor and legislative energy and environment committee chairs by February 1, 2011.

Commission must include in decommissioning fund estimates of costs to host communities (Prairie Island Indian Community, Red Wing, and Monticello) from plant removal until dry casks are removed by U.S. Department of Energy, based on highest five years of property tax receipts or annual amounts under existing statute.

Host community cost estimates must be increased annually by implicit price deflator or similar inflationary index, with payments beginning after plant permanently ceases operations and continuing until federal removal of spent fuel.

Money set aside under this section must be refunded to rate payers if the U.S. Department of Energy opens a federal repository accepting Minnesota's spent nuclear waste.