Relating to small modular reactor energy facilities.
Summary
Senate Bill 996 would create a specific legal pathway for siting and operating small modular reactor energy facilities in Oregon. The bill defines a “small modular reactor” as an advanced nuclear reactor with a nameplate capacity of 300 megawatts or less, made of factory-fabricated components assembled on site, and potentially operated in combination with similar reactors at a single location. It then defines a “small modular reactor energy facility” as a power facility using one or more of these reactors at a single site.
The core policy change is that the bill exempts these facilities from two existing Oregon statutes, ORS 469.595 and 469.599, that otherwise apply to nuclear power plant siting. Based on the bill digest and text, the exemption removes the requirement that a licensed repository for high-level radioactive waste be available before such a facility may be sited in the state. In practical terms, SB 996 would make it easier to approve and develop small modular nuclear projects by carving them out from the current waste-disposal precondition.
Impact
SB 996 would amend Oregon’s energy facility siting framework by adding a new section to ORS 469.590 to 469.601 and excluding small modular reactor energy facilities from the application of ORS 469.595 and 469.599. The bill would therefore narrow the reach of existing nuclear siting restrictions for this class of advanced reactors, potentially enabling permitting, construction, and operation of SMR projects without first securing a licensed high-level radioactive waste repository. Its effect would be limited to small modular reactor facilities as defined in the bill, not all nuclear power plants.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or formal support/opposition in the materials supplied. The bill text itself suggests a pro-development, pro-nuclear-innovation posture, aimed at reducing regulatory barriers for advanced reactor deployment. On that basis, the available record indicates a generally facilitative intent rather than a contested or restrictive one, though the absence of discussion means public or legislative sentiment cannot be fully assessed from the provided materials.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the bill’s removal of the requirement that a licensed repository for high-level radioactive waste exist before siting a nuclear facility. Supporters would likely view this as a necessary modernization to allow small modular reactors to proceed, while opponents may see it as weakening an important safeguard tied to radioactive waste management and long-term disposal planning. Another likely issue is whether SMRs should be treated differently from traditional nuclear plants under Oregon law, since the bill creates a special exemption for this technology class.