The recent snowstorm reinforces the necessity of a reliable, consistent energy grid to power homes and businesses. As America and Missouri grapple with rising electricity demand and widespread closure of coal plants, nuclear energy has emerged as a key piece to power future electricity needs.
Positive trends in regulation, attitudes toward nuclear power, and technology have fueled a resurgence in American nuclear power. The good news for Missouri: our state has a strong history with nuclear power and engineering. With real national momentum, Missouri has an opportunity to leverage our existing strengths to benefit from this resurgence.
A Simple First Step: Forming a Nuclear Advisory Council
A straightforward step would be forming a Missouri Nuclear Advisory Council to inform comprehensive strategies for guiding nuclear development. Tennessee’s recent experience offers a replicable model.
In 2023, Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee established a nuclear advisory council through executive order to inform legislative actions for addressing regulatory, education, and workforce barriers, as well as strategies for financing, waste storage practices, and opportunities Tennessee should pursue with federal partners and agencies. For example, the council recommended amending a regulatory statute to classify nuclear energy production facilities as Certified Green Energy Production Facilities, leveling the playing field with renewables.
Tennessee’s council serves as a model of collaboration and expertise, with membership that includes:
- Directors of interested state departments: Environment and Conservation, Economic Development, and Emergency Management
- Officials from the state legislature, congressional delegation, and local government
- Experts from higher education, utilities, workforce development, the energy production sector, and the nuclear industry
- Representation from the regional national laboratory
- Additional members as determined necessary by the governor (Tennessee opted to include more experts and scientists).
Missouri could create a similar council through executive order, establishing a platform for collaboration among the state’s brightest minds.
Potential Focus Areas for the Council
While Tennessee’s council had a partial focus on economic development, Missouri’s council could prioritize identifying best practices and potential legislative solutions without interfering in market outcomes.
To provide one example, the council could identify and evaluate suitable locations for new advanced nuclear facilities. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that repurposing coal plants for advanced nuclear reactors can reduce construction costs by up to 35%. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has already identified retired and retiring coal plants in Missouri as promising sites for new reactors. The council could assess these opportunities and recommend actionable steps.
The Potential for Missouri
Missouri has the talent, the track record, and the need to build new, advanced nuclear facilities. A nuclear advisory council could bring these elements together to inform best practices for new nuclear development in our state, catalyzing investment, attracting high-paying jobs, and securing a reliable energy supply for decades.
