Support for HB25-1040

Written testimony to the Colorado state House Energy and Environment Committee on HB25-1040:  Adding Nuclear Energy as a Clean Energy Resource.

I am writing to ask for your support on HB25-1040, scheduled for hearing on February 13.  My comments here represent my own personal views, informed by eight years’ experience as a citizen lobbyist for a national climate change organization and six years as a member of Club 20. 

Meeting projected load growth while maintaining a clean and stable grid – HB25-1040 would include nuclear energy as another zero-carbon resource for utilities and energy planners to consider, subject to community support, economics, and safety review processes.  Nuclear power has provided safe, reliable, emissions-free electricity to millions of Americans for over half a century.  It can be used strategically to stabilize a grid dominated by intermittent renewables, reduce the amount of land needed to supply our electricity, and efficiently re-use transmission infrastructure where fossil plants are being retired.  

Aligning Colorado with federal policy – There is strong support in the Trump administration and bipartisan support in Congress for nuclear power.  Nuclear can help us achieve energy security goals and geopolitical goals while eliminating air pollution, water pollution, and climate pollution.  The United States can, and should, lead the world in developing and deploying safe, clean nuclear power technology.  Colorado should be part of that leadership.

Supporting a Just Transition for our coal communities – I support Colorado’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with global consensus, but I believe that climate policy should be focused on reducing emissions, not picking technologies.  If communities like Craig want to consider a coal-to-nuclear replacement, they should be able to.  HB25-1040 doesn’t cost the government anything, doesn’t commit to deploying nuclear anywhere.  All it does is codify the truth: nuclear energy is an electricity source that does not generate CO2 emissions.  Colorado should be supporting zero-carbon energy development as an option for the communities that are bearing the brunt of our energy transition.

Nuclear power, like all forms of energy, has risks and benefits. I raised my children 50 miles away from the San Onofre nuclear plant in California.  The only time I faced evacuation during that time was from a massive wildfire.  Climate change keeps me up at night.  Nuclear power does not.  We need a diverse energy portfolio if we’re going to achieve the ambitious goals we’ve set out and leave a healthy world for our children and grandchildren. 

Thank you for serving Colorado, and for considering my comments.  I urge a YES vote on HB25-1040.

NOTE: HB25-1040 passed the state legislature on strong bipartisan votes and was signed into law by Gov. Polis on March 31, 2025.