Nuclear powerWestinghouse, Missouri utilities promote Westinghouse Small Modular Reactor

Westinghouse Electric Company and the Missouri Electric Alliance led by Ameren Missouri the other day announced the formation of a utility participation group called the NexStart SMR Alliance.

The Alliance is a consortium of current and prospective nuclear plant owners and operators and includes cooperative, municipal, and investor-owned electric service providers, as well as public enterprises to advance U.S. energy security.  Alliance members signed a Memorandum of Understanding that highlights the importance of advancing nuclear energy by deploying the Westinghouse Small Modular Reactor (SMR).  

The initial membership of the NexStart SMR Alliance includes Ameren Missouri, Exelon Generation Company, Dominion Virginia Power, FirstEnergy Generation, Tampa Electric Company, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, Savannah River National Laboratory, and members of the Missouri Alliance: Missouri Public Utility Alliance; Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc.; Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Inc.; The Empire District Electric Company; and Kansas City Power, and Light Company.  Westinghouse and Alliance members are also in discussions with other utilities and enterprises considering NexStart SMR Alliance membership in order to support the potential deployment of a Westinghouse SMR at Ameren’s Callaway Energy Center in central Missouri.

The NexStart SMR Alliance will collaborate in supporting Westinghouse in its application to secure Department of Energy (DOE) SMR investment funds which will be awarded to promising SMR projects that have the potential to be licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and achieve commercial operation by 2022.  These cost-share agreements will span a 5-year period and, subject to Congressional appropriations, provide a total investment of approximately $900 million, with at least 50 percent provided by private industry.  The investment fund application were submitted to the DOE by mid-May, and a final decision on awarding the investment funds by the DOE is expected in late summer of 2012. 

John Goossen, Westinghouse vice president of Innovation and SMR Development and NexStart SMR Alliance co-chair, said the group is collaborating on a strategy that will lead to Design Certification (DC) for the Westinghouse SMR and the issuance of a combined construction and operating license (COL) for a Westinghouse SMR at Ameren Missouri’s Callaway Energy Center to commence operation by 2022.  “Westinghouse and Ameren Missouri have an unmatched commitment to achieving the objectives set out in the DOE’s funding opportunity announcement.  If there is a stronger application team with stronger corporate histories, financial foundations, and operational excellence, I would be very surprised.  Our companies represent energy industry leaders with the