The technology is unproven, the financing undetermined and the market prospects unclear. But those uncertainties aren't preventing a phalanx of Missouri business and political heavyweights from lining up behind a next-generation nuclear energy project that Gov. Jay Nixon hopes will help define the Show-Me State much like the American auto industry helped elevate Detroit.
Flanked at a Monday afternoon news conference by more than 20 statewide business leaders, utility executives and fellow politicians on the University of Missouri campus, Nixon on Monday hailed a plan to build small modular nuclear reactors. The effort is the potential "spark (of) a new global industry" that would not only benefit the state's power supply but also create portable power units that could be shipped overseas or elsewhere in the United States, he said.
Westinghouse Electric Co. and Ameren Missouri are competing with several applicants for a share of $452 million the U.S. Department of Energy has set aside to help design and develop the new technology. Top executives from those companies joined Nixon and spoke later in the day to an overflow crowd of more than 300 people at the university's Life Sciences Center at an event billed as the "Missouri Economic Development Summit."
READ MORE...
Showing posts with label Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Officials to reveal plans for Missouri nuclear reactor today
Thursday, April 19, 2012
By CHRIS BLANK ~ The Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and energy officials are
to announce plans today that could include the development of another
nuclear reactor in the state.
The Democratic governor's office called the plans significant for energy
development and economic growth in Missouri. Nixon and officials from
Ameren Missouri and Westinghouse Electric are scheduled to make the
formal announcement this afternoon at the Missouri Governor's Mansion in
Jefferson City.
A Nixon spokesman declined to provide further details Wednesday before the planned announcement.
The state's lone existing nuclear power plant is about 25 miles
northeast of the state Capitol in Callaway County and is operated by St.
Louis-based Ameren Missouri. Officials twice in recent years have
attempted to clear the way for construction of an additional nuclear
power plant, but those efforts have bogged down in the state
legislature.
State lawmakers in 2009 considered a measure that would have let
utilities seek state regulators' permission to include the financing
costs for certain types of new power plants in consumer bills before the
plant is operational. Last year, legislators considered a proposal to
allow power companies to seek permission from the Public Service
Commission to charge customers for the cost of getting an early site
permit from federal regulators for a possible second nuclear power
plant.
A state law approved by voters in 1976 bars utilities from charging
customers for the costs of a new power plant before it starts producing
electricity. Power companies and other supporters of the state
legislation have argued changes are needed to move toward possibly
expanding nuclear power in Missouri. But those efforts have faced
opposition amid concerns from consumers and industrial energy users
about protections for electric ratepayers.
In November 2010, Nixon endorsed the idea of allowing utilities to
charge customers for the costs of obtaining an early site permit. At
that time, a coalition of utilities that included Ameren Missouri,
Empire District Electric, Kansas City Power & Light, electric
cooperatives and municipal utilities announced they were considering
seeking an early site permit for a second nuclear plant.
Nixon said building a second nuclear plant would create thousands of
jobs in Missouri and that the idea included consumer protections.
Last month, Westinghouse Electric said it would apply to the U.S.
Department of Energy for up to $452 million worth of investment funds
that have been approved by Congress to assist the development and use of
small modular reactor technology. The company announced it would apply
for the federal funds with a group of utilities.
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1838996.html
By CHRIS BLANK ~ The Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and energy officials are
to announce plans today that could include the development of another
nuclear reactor in the state.
The Democratic governor's office called the plans significant for energy
development and economic growth in Missouri. Nixon and officials from
Ameren Missouri and Westinghouse Electric are scheduled to make the
formal announcement this afternoon at the Missouri Governor's Mansion in
Jefferson City.
A Nixon spokesman declined to provide further details Wednesday before the planned announcement.
The state's lone existing nuclear power plant is about 25 miles
northeast of the state Capitol in Callaway County and is operated by St.
Louis-based Ameren Missouri. Officials twice in recent years have
attempted to clear the way for construction of an additional nuclear
power plant, but those efforts have bogged down in the state
legislature.
State lawmakers in 2009 considered a measure that would have let
utilities seek state regulators' permission to include the financing
costs for certain types of new power plants in consumer bills before the
plant is operational. Last year, legislators considered a proposal to
allow power companies to seek permission from the Public Service
Commission to charge customers for the cost of getting an early site
permit from federal regulators for a possible second nuclear power
plant.
A state law approved by voters in 1976 bars utilities from charging
customers for the costs of a new power plant before it starts producing
electricity. Power companies and other supporters of the state
legislation have argued changes are needed to move toward possibly
expanding nuclear power in Missouri. But those efforts have faced
opposition amid concerns from consumers and industrial energy users
about protections for electric ratepayers.
In November 2010, Nixon endorsed the idea of allowing utilities to
charge customers for the costs of obtaining an early site permit. At
that time, a coalition of utilities that included Ameren Missouri,
Empire District Electric, Kansas City Power & Light, electric
cooperatives and municipal utilities announced they were considering
seeking an early site permit for a second nuclear plant.
Nixon said building a second nuclear plant would create thousands of
jobs in Missouri and that the idea included consumer protections.
Last month, Westinghouse Electric said it would apply to the U.S.
Department of Energy for up to $452 million worth of investment funds
that have been approved by Congress to assist the development and use of
small modular reactor technology. The company announced it would apply
for the federal funds with a group of utilities.
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1838996.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)