The Minnesota Senate is poised to vote soon on a plan that extends nuclear waste storage at Xcel Energy's Prairie Island plant. The proposal is meant to keep the facility operating through 2014, but has run into objections from environmental advocates. Critics say it lacks a strong commitment to renewable energy alternatives and provides no explicit role for lawmakers in future nuclear waste storage debates. Minnesota Public Radio's Michael Khoo is following the Senate action and joins us now from the Capitol. Michael, is it clear yet what direction the Senate will take? KHOO: Well, Lorna, the debate is continuing as we speak, although a definitive vote should be here shortly. It does seem, however, that one contentious point has been settled. Virtually all lawmakers have accepted that Prairie Island will be granted additional nuclear waste storage capacity, keeping it open for another ten years or so. But a key disagreement revolves around who would have authority to approve storage beyond THAT point. DFLer Ellen Anderson of St. Paul has been strongly advocating that any future decisions MUST be ratified by the Legislature. But several amendments designed to ensure that position were defeated today. As the bill stands now, lawmakers have a right to weigh in on future decisions, but aren't required to do so. That gives a significant amount of authority to the state's five-member Public Utility Commission.