Mon County Lawmaker Expresses Caution on Nuclear Power Pursuit in West Virginia
Evan Hansen, a Democratic lawmaker representing Monongalia County, West Virginia, has expressed caution regarding the state's pursuit of nuclear power, despite acknowledging its potential for clean energy. While recognizing that nuclear energy produces no carbon emissions and could play a role in the state's electricity generation, Hansen highlighted concerns about safety and the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. His comments come as West Virginia considers a proposed memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy to establish a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, a facility that Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Utah have also submitted proposals to operate. Hansen noted that modern nuclear reactors are designed with inherent safety features and are often cheaper to build and more reliable than older models, with many tested by the Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. However, he emphasized that the issue of nuclear waste and its long-term storage remains ...
