News on small reactors likely to come soon
First, I’d like to provide an update on what possibly could be the biggest economic development project in our history: the small modular reactor project.
As I reported previously, Regional Economic Development Inc. has established a small modular reactor task force, co-chaired by Todd Culley, CEO of Boone Electric, and Rob Duncan, vice chancellor of research at the University of Missouri. The panel consists of leaders in public policy and technical services, a broad title encompassing engineering, physics and project logistics, among others.
Initially, we had hoped by now to have heard from the Department of Energy regarding the application for as much as $452 million of investment funding to the Ameren Missouri and Westinghouse partnership for SMR development and licensing. Gov. Jay Nixon; a long, bipartisan list of state and federal elected officials; numerous businesses and associations; and all of Missouri’s electric service providers have formed an alliance in support of the application. We believe an announcement should occur within the next month or so.
The SMR task force is charged with supporting the overall project scope, which is anticipated to last several years. While the Callaway Energy Center could operate five SMRs next to the existing nuclear unit, the major value component of the project is the long list of potential SMR component manufacturing facilities. A global race is occurring to see which country will supply the world’s future generations with reliable and affordable power from SMRs, and the United States is competing to be the supplier of choice.
Second, I’d like to take the opportunity to reflect a bit on my term as REDI chairman. I gained a tremendous interest in REDI and economic development when serving as Boone County’s Northern District commissioner in 1989-90. I’ve served two stints as REDI chairman since then. What I can assure you is that every REDI staff member, every REDI board member, every elected official who has served as a representative of their agency to REDI, and every REDI volunteer and investor has always had the best interest of our community at heart.
I know some will find this hard to believe, but I have been at the table when REDI decided more than one prospect was not a great fit for our community, and REDI then worked with other communities to assist in locating that project in Missouri. REDI staff and volunteers do their best to review the potential benefit and impact of every project we work with. We win some, and we lose some. The competition is extremely stiff. Jobs or opportunities that are only moderately acceptable to some in our community are highly coveted in many others. That’s the nature of the business.
As I’ve said before, the stars are truly aligned for Columbia and our state. On Monday, I received word that this year’s report from Pollina Corporate Real Estate and the American Economic Development Institute ranked Missouri ninth overall in pro-business policy and planning.
The report, Pollina Corporate Top 10 Pro-Business States for 2012, ranked states based on criteria ranging from labor and taxes to economic development and right-to-work legislation. Missouri and, most important to me, Columbia continue to receive national recognition as a great place to live and do business. We’ve made great strides, but we must continue with our efforts to create a great business climate in our community to ensure our continued success.
I’ll continue to serve another year on the REDI board as past chairman but will always do my very best to assist REDI in any way possible as a volunteer and salesman for Columbia and our great state.
Dave Griggs owns and operates Dave Griggs Flooring America and is chairman of the board of directors for REDI.
-Dave Griggs
