Oklahoma Corporation Commissioners went along Wednesday with a state law requiring they take a look into the prospects of nuclear power in Oklahoma. But they did so with a complaint that the legislature did not provide any additional funding to carry out the mandate.
“I think we should note for the record that not only were we not provided funding for this NOI (Notice of Inquiry) but the legislature appropriated us less dollars this year than we had last year,” stated Commissioner Brian Bingman.
A spokesman of the Public Utilities Division responded, “But as always, we’ll do our best we can with the resources we have.”
Commissioner Todd Hiett also expressed some issue about “limited resources” to carry out the required study which officially carries the title “Inquiry of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to Study the Technical and Legal Feasibility of Nuclear Energy Generation in Oklahoma.”
It is required under Senate Bill 130 authored by Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard, a measure signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt. As stated, an out-side consulting firm is to be contracted to help the Commission with the study.
“The feasibility study shall evaluate and consider:
1. Advantages and disadvantages of generating nuclear energy in
this state, including, but not limited to, the economic and
environmental impacts; 2. Methods to maximize existing workforce and products made in this state for the construction of nuclear energy generation facilities…”
The original bill provided for $375,000 to fund the study, but it was not included in the final version of the measure that was approved by the legislature and signed into law June 9 by Gov. Kevin Stitt.
“Not later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of
this act, the Corporation Commission shall start the process to
engage an outside consulting firm to conduct a technical and legal
feasibility study on nuclear energy generation in this state. This
engagement shall be exempt from the state procurement process under Section 85.1 et seq. of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes and follow the Corporation Commission process to retain expert witnesses on behalf of the agency to ensure the ability to timely conduct the study and complete the requirements of this section.”
The Corporation Commission will have just less than a year to carry out the nuclear power study.
“Not later than nine (9) months after the effective date of
this act, the Corporation Commission shall electronically deliver
the feasibility study findings to the President Pro Tempore of the
Oklahoma State Senate, the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of
Representatives, and the Governor,” stated the final version.
The only reference to funding of the study came in the version approved by the legislature.
“In the event the Corporation Commission is unable to hire a
consultant to complete the report, the Commission is authorized to conduct a notice of inquiry and utilize the information received
from the stakeholders in conjunction with a consulting firm to
reduce the cost of gathering information for the purpose of the
study and report.”
Under the NOI approved by Commissioners, they encouraged interested parties to make written comments Interested persons are invited to submit written comments. Comments should be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Case Filing (“ECF”) System. Further, comments may be submitted by regular mail to the following address: Oklahoma Corporation Commission Court Clerk, Will Rogers Memorial Office Building, 2401 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105.
The Commission shall consider the issues presented and the comments received in this NOI at a public meeting on January 7, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., in the Concourse Theater, Suite C50, Will Rogers Memorial Building at 2401 North Lincoln Boulevard, in the Capital Complex, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105. The Concourse Theater is in the tunnel between the Will Rogers Memorial Office Building and the Sequoyah Memorial Office Building.
Oklahoma has no current nuclear power in the state and its only attempt was a fiery history that originated in 1973 when Public Service Company of Oklahoma proposed building the Black Fox Nuclear Power plant 3 miles southwest of Inola. But in 1979, two months after the partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, protesters stormed the construction site. Some 500 of them were arrested.
Led by activist Carrie Barefoot Dickerson who would eventually win a $555,000 lawsuit against PSO, it led to PSO’s decision in February 1982 to cancel the Black Fox project.