On Tuesday, the Indiana Senate concurred with the House’s adjustment to Senate Bill 424, which removed the sunset date from the bill, clearing its path to the governor.

The bill would fund the project development costs of small modular nuclear reactors. The technology is experimental, and no energy sources of this kind have been successfully built in the United States.

“Project development costs” are defined in the bill as engineering, costs for licensing and permits, costs for environmental assessment, and equipment purchases.

With the removal of the sunset date, which was initially July 1, 2035, the development costs can continually be incurred and project timelines are unrestricted.

“Essentially, what this is doing is creating a blank check for folks to charge our rate payers for project development costs for as long as they would like to. This is really concerning. We are all concerned about the increasing utility costs, and I want to remind us that this is experimental technology at best,” said Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis.

Hunley noted that the House could have extended the sunset date but opted for complete removal. She said removing the date does not reflect fiscal responsibility

During the presentation of the concurrence, Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, questioned bill author Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, about the technology and the sunset date removal.

Koch said this technology will likely first be active in Canada.

“There are none yet in the United States, but there are many states just like us who are doing the very same things to be ready when the designs are approved,” said Koch.

Taylor expressed concerns about paying for development costs as opposed to the costs of the technology. In addition to uncertainty around the technology, he emphasized that there is uncertainty around the long-term cost efficiency.

“I don’t know what my savings are, but I know I paid for your research. I paid for you to go out to D.C. and get approved for the small models and small modular thing. And now you’re telling me, ‘Oh, you’re gonna get savings’—savings for who?” Taylor asked. “Are you giving me my dollar back?”

In addition to Hunley and Taylor, Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, raised concerns on the removal of the sunset date.

“We have nations throughout the world that goes nuclear and actually it’s cleaner,” said Young. “But this is the only one I understand that they’re gonna charge up front for costs. And they go through planning and decide not to do it, but guess what? … I don’t get my money back”.

As he closed, Koch read a letter from the executive director of the Indiana Building Trades Unions, which said, “This innovative technology presents a significant opportunity for our state for generations to come.”

The concurrence passed with 32 yeas and 15 nays. It now heads to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk.