Camdenton, Mo. — Efforts are underway to build the second nuclear power plant in Missouri, and a newly-elected lawmaker who represents Miller and Morgan counties finds himself in the action.  This week, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced an agreement among several energy companies to fund the construction of Callaway II, a second nuclear reactor near Fulton where Ameren Missouri has operated the Callaway Plant since 1984. In order to build a second plant, the group of stakeholders will need an early sight permit.

“Residential and commercial ratepayers will not pay one penny unless the consortium is given the early site permit; the costs associated with seeking that permit are determined to be “prudent;” and the Missouri Public Service Commission approves them,” Nixon said. “In addition, this agreement will keep consumer protections on the books for construction work in progress.”

State Senator-elect Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City) will introduce a bill in 2011 that will allow the energy companies to recover the cost of the nuclear power permit. Kehoe’s district encompasses parts of Miller, Morgan, Moniteau, Cole and Callaway counties. Kehoe is a freshman legislator who replaces outgoing Sen. Carl Vogel.
Ameren started the process of applying to build Callaway II in 2008, but withdrew its 8,000-page application because of funding issues. The process to design and build a nuclear reactor from start to finish can take 15 years.

Partners in the new energy consortium include: Ameren Missouri, Associated Electric Cooperative Inc., Empire District Electric, the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Kansas City Power & Light, and the Missouri Public Utility Alliance.

“Given the uncertainties regarding how best to replace aging power plants, the potential impact of anticipated EPA regulations, and continued consideration at the federal level of carbon tax proposals, Ameren Missouri believes strongly that our state must keep all options on the table – including additional nuclear power generation,” Ameren Missouri President and CEO Warner Baxter said.  According to Nixon’s office, Missouri has the nation’s seventh lowest energy costs.
“Every family needs reliable, affordable energy to heat and cool their homes,” Nixon said. “And every business in every sector of our economy – whether it’s a family farm in the Bootheel, a sawmill in the Ozarks, a hospital complex in St. Louis, or a community college in Springfield – needs reliable, affordable energy to grow and prosper.”  The governor touted the plan’s ability to create long term jobs and some short term jobs during the reactor construction phase of the project.

 

-Rance Burger