The unconstitutionality of the nuclear power bill (Iowa)

http://www.dailyiowan.com/2011/05/10/Opinions/23437.html

One of the fundamental principles of popular government is that the power of taxation and the expenditure of taxes shall not be exercised for private benefit or for gratuities to private interests.

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SF 390 sets forth an unprecedented scheme for transferring private citizen money and public taxpayer funds to MidAmerican Energy Co., a privately owned utility corporation, for the purpose of subsidizing the possible construction of one or more nuclear-power plants of indeterminate sizes, of undefined costs, at undisclosed locations, and at some indefinite time(s) in the future — if at all.

The funding would come from so-called "riders" that would be assessed on a monthly basis on the bills of each utility customer served by MidAmerican for as long as its owners aspire to build a nuclear-power plant— whether that customer be a private residence or business, a state, county or municipal government or agency, a local school district or community college.

Remarkably, should MidAmerican be prohibited by regulators from building, or should its owners simply choose not to build, any of the nuclear-power plants funded by taxpayers and ratepayers, the surcharges would be non-refundable, and no ratepayers or taxpayers would have legal recourse to get any of their money back.

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Do you know if Alliant has any connection to them?

I can't believe they can do that. Non-refundable surcharges? Hell of a deal.

They can't build new nuclear without it; the chance of default is so high investors refuse to take the risk.

http://www.beyondnuclear.org/construction-work-in-progess/

This type of law is referred to as "construction work in progress" (CWIP) legislation.