On Wednesday 5/24/2017 testimony from Pacific Green Party members opposing Oregon Senate Bill 990 was received by the House Committee On Energy and Environment in Salem. SB 990 - which passed the Senate 24 to 6 with broad support from both Democrats and Republicans - exempts small modular reactors from certain siting restrictions that apply to nuclear power plants.
As noted in an emailed statement to the committee by our Lane Greens Chapter - "There is no known way to safely dispose of nuclear waste, regardless of the technology used. It is feasible to meet our energy needs through energy conservation, efficiency and renewable resources." Testifying at the committee meeting was Charles Newlin of our Linn/Benton Chapter. He noted that SB 990 is direct defiance of the will of the people (who passed an initiative 30 years restricting nuclear power in Oregon) and will (should!) cause a political backlash if passed. The House Committee has blocked the bill from moving forward.
That said, the Green Party should run candidates especially against those Senate Democrats who voted for this ethically reckless bill.