What AARP ad doesn’t tell you

By Sen. Swati Dandekar

------

The AARP is deliberately misleading Iowa's seniors about SF 390 and HF 561. This state legislation is needed to continue consideration of nuclear power as a viable option for the state's future energy mix.

Recent ads paid for by AARP imply that the Legislature is voting to approve a nuclear project and that it contains electric rate increases in the legislation. Not true. Nothing in this legislation increases electric rates or authorizes the construction of a nuclear facility. The legislation also does not alter the traditional role and responsibility of the Iowa Utilities Board or Consumer Advocate in deciding such matters.

If, after continued analysis, a nuclear project is proposed, the Iowa Utilities Board will make decisions on rates, including whether a project should go forward, following a contested case proceeding where all the facts will be presented and all parties can participate.

AARP compares this legislation to a situation in Florida that is very different from what is being discussed in Iowa. AARP knows better. In Florida, a utility is developing a large-scale nuclear project that is many times larger than the small modular technology being explored for Iowa. Facilities using small modular technology are a fraction of the price of a large nuclear facility.

New federal environmental regulations will, in the next few years, require electric utilities to transition to new fuel sources for baseload generation or make major modifications, some of which would be cost-prohibitive, to coal facilities. Eliminating the option of nuclear generation would force utilities to generate electricity with natural gas, the only baseload option left if coal and nuclear are removed from consideration.

Overreliance on natural gas would result in a dramatic increase in demand, thus driving up the price of this volatile fuel source. Most Iowa seniors rely on natural gas to heat their homes and can't afford that type of price volatility.

The proposed legislation includes a number of consumer protection measures that demand annual reporting and stringent accountability measures. The Iowa Utilities Board and the Office of Consumer Advocate always will keep Iowa's interests and economy at the forefront.

Iowa needs to keep nuclear power in the mix in order to keep control of our electricity prices and continue to advance our economy.

Submitted by Sen. Swati Dandekar, D-Marion, Senate Commerce Committee chair, on behalf of Chuck Soderberg, R-LeMars, House Commerce chair; Sen. Jerry Behn, R-Boone, Senate Commerce ranking member; and Rep. Brian Quirk, D-New Hampton; House Commerce ranking member. Comments: swati.

dandekar@legis.state.ia.us