Funding is available for Nevada
Nevada has NEVER asked for compensation! The state has refused to negotiate for any kind of economic benefits.
Our main goal is to change the current plan at Yucca to include a research and reprocessing center that can bring in billions of dollars to the state and create research, technology, and manufacturing jobs. Our state could create export industries — bringing additional funds into the state. We don’t think our state should negotiate for “compensation” for the existing plan, but negotiate to include Yucca as part of a national plan to address the recycling of spent nuclear fuel.
We have heard time and again from elected leaders that there is no “pot of money” for Nevada. But to date, Nevada has refused to negotiate.
There IS a “pot of money.” The Nuclear Waste Trust Fund is currently over $20 billion and growing. It receives about $700 million each year from the users of nuclear power, and another $700 million a year in interest.
Of the annual contribution of $1.4 billion, none of it is being allocated since Congress has “defunded” the program. The defunding has also caused many power companies to halt their payments into the fund, so that $1.4 billion is declining the longer the President tries to kill the project.
The total life cycle cost for Yucca, which is estimated at $96.18 billion in constant 2007 dollars (through 2133). Yes, that is $100 billion! Most of those funds will be spent in Nevada. That is operating as just a repository, without even negotiating.
The law also says that, “The Secretary, in sighting Federal research projects, shall give special consideration to proposals from States where a repository is located.” Thus, asking for a research facility is in line with the law.
The law says that the DOE shall provide impact assistance that includes over 50 specific items, including, “facilities and personnel for elementary and secondary schools, community colleges, vocational and technical schools and universities; transportation, including any roads, terminals, airports, bridges, or railways associated with the facility; tourism and economic development, including the potential loss of revenue and future economic growth.
Click here to read the Nuclear Waste Policy Act as amended, 2004. (pdf)
