Huntsman will oppose efforts to build nuclear reactors in Utah until technology is developed allowing the waste to be processed at the plant and re-used, his spokeswoman says.

"The governor supports nuclear power as part of the entire energy mix that is necessary to power our economy in the future," said Huntsman's spokeswoman, Lisa Roskelley. "In terms of nuclear power plants in Utah, he wants there to be an on-site processing of the nuclear waste that is produced. But nuclear power is an important part of the energy mix."

On-site reprocessing is far off on the horizon. Currently, there is no facility in the United States that can process its nuclear fuel to separate the usable components from the dangerous, radioactive by-products. The Bush administration supports developing reprocessing technology, but any plan would involve a centralized facility where waste could be shipped.

The governor's reservations show the issue of how to deal with nuclear waste remains paramount after the state spent a decade fighting plans by Private Fuel Storage, a utility consortium, to store spent nuclear fuel on the Skull Valley Goshute Indian Reservation.

There are no commercial nuclear reactors in Utah.

Rep. Aaron Tilton, R-Springville, a Utah legislator leading a movement to offer financial incentives to companies that would build a nuclear reactor in the state, says he expects the proposal will get an airing in the upcoming session, despite Huntsman's reluctance.

"The Legislature has a very supportive position on nuclear power, and if the governor understands the issue thoroughly, he'll probably take a more moderate position on nuclear power," Tilton said. "I think the governor would do well to explore it a little bit more from the other side."

The Legislature's Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee met Wednesday to hear information on a proposal to shelter utility companies from financial risks if they build a nuclear reactor in the state. Committee members said they wanted more information on the potential costs of nuclear power.

Roskelley said the governor agrees that the issue needs to be studied further. He hasn't taken a position on the proposed legislation, since it is still being drafted.

Vanessa Pierce, executive director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, said that promises of nuclear power break down when the economics are considered.

"Money speaks louder than anything, and if you look at the history of nuclear power and the present experience that other countries are having with nuclear reactors, nuclear doesn't add up," she said. "There are huge cost overruns consistently and if [Tilton] and [Rep.] Mike Noel think they should be gambling with ratepayer dollars to invest in these risky technologies, they should think again."