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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Ray Carter
[mailto:carterra@okhouse.gov] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:13 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Ray Carter<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Nuclear Power Bill Advances</span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><img width=96 height=95 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:484010521@17022009-1307"></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-family:"Cash Outline"'>Oklahoma House of Representatives</span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>Media Division</b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>February 17, 2009</p>
<p class=MsoNormal> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><u>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:</u></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Contact: State Rep. Scott Martin</p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Capitol: (405) 557-7329</p>
<p class=MsoNormal> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><span style='font-size:16.0pt'>Nuclear Power Bill Advances</span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i> </i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation creating the “Nuclear Power
Incentives Act” gained the approval of a state House committee today.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal> House Bill 1750, by state Rep. Scott Martin,
would establish a review process for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to
consider nuclear power proposals and also creates a task force to consider tax
changes that would encourage construction of a nuclear power plant in Oklahoma.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal> “The national drive for energy independence
means we need to diversify production and it simply doesn’t make sense to leave
anything off the table,” said Martin, R-Norman. “Nuclear power could safely
generate a significant amount of low-cost electricity in Oklahoma.”</p>
<p class=MsoNormal> Under the bill, an electric utility would be
able to file an application with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission seeking a
determination of need to construct a nuclear power plant. If the Commission
approves the application, the power plant’s costs would be subject to cost
recovery rules promulgated by the Commission similar to existing rules for
other power plants.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>When determining whether there is a
need for the nuclear power plant, the bill requires the Corporation Commission
to consider the cost of power and energy from the nuclear power plant “compared
to alternatives” and the benefits of fuel diversity.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>The Corporation Commission would be
required to respond to applications within 180 days of filing and the
Commission’s final order would be reviewable on appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme
Court. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal> House Bill 1750 also creates a nine-member task
force to make recommendations on “an appropriate tax credit for entities
investing in a nuclear power plant” in Oklahoma.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>Among other things, the task force
will determine if an existing tax credit for production and sale of electricity
by zero-emission facilities should apply to nuclear power.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>The task force would be required to
make its recommendations no later than December 1, 2010.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>“Adopting the right tax policy
could make a nuclear power plant more feasible for Oklahoma utilities and the
long-term benefits, such as lower electric bills for consumers, would more than
offset the upfront cost to the state,” Martin said. “Nuclear power has a proven
track record across the nation and all over the world and it’s time Oklahoma began
looking at this potential energy source.”</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>There are currently 104 nuclear
plants in the United States in 34 states, with none in Oklahoma. According to
the Nuclear Energy Institute, there are 17 applications for 26 nuclear plants
currently under consideration.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>House Speaker Chris Benge and
Martin recently toured a nuclear power plant in Arkansas.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal> More than 100 nuclear plants are being built or
planned right now across the world, with about half in China, India and other
developing nations. Argentina, Brazil and South Africa have plans to expand
existing nuclear energy programs, and Vietnam, Thailand, Egypt and Turkey are
currently looking into possible nuclear energy options. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>In France, 80 percent of power
comes from nuclear plants that have operated for years without any significant
safety incidents. Over the years, Martin noted that nuclear plant design has
become more standardized, thus safer and cheaper, making it a more viable
energy source option. </p>
<p class=MsoNormal> House Bill 1750 passed out of the House Energy Committee
today. It now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal><em>For video of Rep. Scott Martin discussing this
legislation, go to <a href="http://www.okhouse.tv">www.okhouse.tv</a>.</em></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b>-30-</b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> </p>
<p class=MsoNormal> </p>
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