Certificate of need issuance for a new nuclear power plant prohibition abolishment

SF 350 removes a legal prohibition that prevented Minnesota's Public Utilities Commission from issuing certificates of need for new nuclear power plants. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes section 216B.243, subdivision 3b, eliminating the specific language stating the commission "may not issue a certificate of need for the construction of a new nuclear-powered electric generating plant." This change would directly affect nuclear energy developers seeking to build new facilities and the commission responsible for reviewing such proposals. If enacted, the bill would allow the commission to evaluate and approve new nuclear plant projects under the certificate of need process, which was previously barred by law.