Bill Text: TX SB2274 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the regulation of fusion energy.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-22 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB2274 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB2274-Introduced.html
| By: Kolkhorst | S.B. No. 2274 | |
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| relating to the regulation of fusion energy. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Utilities Code, is amended | ||
| by adding Chapter 44 to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 44. FUSION ENERGY | ||
| Sec. 44.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
| (1) "Fusion" means a reaction in which at least one | ||
| heavier, more stable nucleus is produced from two lighter, less | ||
| stable nuclei, that results in the emission of energy. | ||
| (2) "Fusion energy" means the product of fusion | ||
| reactions inside a device used for the purpose of generating | ||
| electricity or other commercially usable forms of energy. | ||
| (3) "Clean fusion energy" means fusion energy that | ||
| utilizes fuel that is not byproduct material as defined in 10 C.F.R. § | ||
| Section 30.4, whose primary fusion reaction is aneutronic, and | ||
| for which the outputs of the primary fusion reaction do not qualify | ||
| as byproduct material. | ||
| (4) "Fusion power plant" means a facility where a | ||
| fusion device serves as the principal source of energy production, | ||
| that is capable of converting fusion energy into electricity for | ||
| consumption, and that is interconnected with an electric grid for | ||
| the purpose of transporting net electricity produced. | ||
| (5) "Experimental fusion device" is a device designed | ||
| and used to carry out research and experiments to support the | ||
| design, development, and deployment of commercial fusion power | ||
| plants, and that is not interconnected with an electric grid for the | ||
| purpose of transporting net electricity produced. | ||
| Sec. 44.002. JURISDICTION OF COMMISSION. The commission has | ||
| jurisdiction over a fusion power plant. | ||
| Sec. 44.003. REFERENCES TO NUCLEAR FISSION. Any reference | ||
| in state statutes, rules, regulations, or other policies to | ||
| "nuclear energy," "nuclear power," "nuclear power plant," "nuclear | ||
| reactor" or similar terms referencing nuclear fission shall not be | ||
| interpreted as applying to fusion, fusion energy, fusion power | ||
| plants, or experimental fusion devices unless the reference is | ||
| capable of no other reasonable interpretation except that it | ||
| applies. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 39.206(a), Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (a) For purposes of this section: | ||
| (1) "Decommissioning" includes decommissioning and | ||
| decontamination of a nuclear generating unit consistent with | ||
| federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements. | ||
| (2) "Nuclear decommissioning trust" means an external | ||
| and irrevocable trust created for the purpose of funding | ||
| decommissioning obligations for a nuclear generating unit, | ||
| consistent with federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission | ||
| requirements. | ||
| (3) "Nuclear generating unit" means an electric | ||
| generating facility that uses nuclear energy, except fusion energy | ||
| as defined by Section 44.001, to generate electricity for sale and | ||
| is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. | ||
| (4) "Power generation company" has the meaning | ||
| assigned by Section 31.002. | ||
| (5) "Retail electric customer" means a retail electric | ||
| customer: | ||
| (A) in a geographic area of this state in which | ||
| retail customer choice has been implemented; or | ||
| (B) of a municipally owned utility or electric | ||
| cooperative that has an agreement to purchase power from a nuclear | ||
| generating unit. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
