Ballot Initiative Would Pave Way for Rebirth of Nuclear Power in Oregon

A new ballot initiative filed Jan. 27 would repeal previously approved obstacles to the development of commercial nuclear power plants in Oregon.

Initiative Petition 18, filed by chief petitioner Ian Loney of Neskowin, would strike down two current requirements:

1. That there be a federally licensed, permanent disposal facility for radioactive waste before any new plant can open.
2. That the development of any nuclear plant be approved by a statewide vote.

Voters placed those two requirements into law in 1980 in Ballot Measure 7. (The measure passed 53% to 47%.)

Oregon has committed to reducing carbon emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. That transition requires the development of non-polluting electrical generation, and because of the damage to fish and habitat, new dams are unlikely.

The state’s current path to lowering emissions includes the development of wind and solar generation, both of which are intermittent resources. Some advocates believe nuclear plants, which operate continuously, could be part of the solution.

Loney makes that point in the language he submitted as part of his initiative.

“The citizens of Oregon recognize the need for reliable, clean, and efficient energy sources to meet current and future energy demands,” he writes. “Nuclear energy provides a low-carbon, sustainable energy source that complements renewable energy initiatives.”

Although Three Mile Island, the infamous Pennsylvania nuclear plant that suffered a partial meltdown in 1979, is slated for a restart and utilities are considering bringing other nukes out of shutdown, nuclear energy could face a difficult path in Oregon.

Portland General Electric operated the Trojan nuclear plant in Columbia County from 1976 to 1993 but faced opposition for much of that time. In 1992, voters narrowly rejected ballot measures that would have shut the plant down. It closed the following year anyway, amid safety concerns. PGE shipped the plant’s reactor to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in 2001 and demolished Trojan’s 500-foot cooling tower in 2006.

Loney nods to concerns Oregonians might have: “Existing federal and state laws provide sufficient regulatory oversight to ensure the safety and management of nuclear energy facilities and waste,” he writes.

Loney must now gather 1,000 sponsorship signatures before he can begin to gather signatures to qualify for the November 2028 ballot.

This story was produced by the Oregon Journalism Project, a nonprofit investigative newsroom for the state of Oregon. OJP seeks to inform, engage, and empower Oregonians with investigative and watchdog reporting that makes a significant impact at the state and local levels. Its stories appear in partner newspapers across the state. Learn more at oregonjournalismproject.org.