Umair Irfan, of Scientific American, reports that the lone nuclear power plant in Missouri produces 12% of the state electricity from one reactor cranking out 1.2 gigawatts, making it the third-largest electricity producer in the state. Its 553-foot-tall cooling tower is the second-tallest structure in Missouri behind the St. Louis Arch.
Operated by Ameren Missouri, the Callaway Westinghouse four-loop pressurized water reactor provides electricity to 1.2 million customers. The $3 billion facility puts more than 800 employees and contractors to work.
Barry Cox, senior director of nuclear operations at Callaway, explains that engineers designed and train to make the plant withstand earthquakes, tornadoes and human error. But most of the indicator lights are off during our visit, save the sounds of ventilation. This is what it is like in the plant at night, 2 AM, he says. Engineers monitor the steady plant operations, especially since the Nuclear Regulatory Commission extended Callaway license last year to run until 2044.
Callaway is a baseload plant, Cox says. About 3,565 megawatts thermal and about 1,283 MW electric go out onto the grid. But Callaway really flexes its muscles when it comes to zero-carbon-emissions energy in a coal-heavy portfolio. Missouri gets 82% of its electricity from coal, and the recently bankrupt Peabody Energy Corp., the nation largest coal company, is based in St. Louis.
The not-so-objective U.S. EIA reports that Missouri ranks 13th in total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Wind, solar, biomass and hydroelectric power provide the state with just 2.2% of its electricity. That means 83% of Missouri carbon-free energy comes from the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant.
Many analysts are now calling not just to preserve existing nuclear power plants, but to invest in new designs to help fight climate change. A new round of innovation for nuclear reactors would be quite important, said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.
Read on ..
Resource Portal for I2M Clients, Associates, and Geoscientists
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-