Today, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it plans to issue a new funding opportunity for its Small Modular Reactor (SMR) program, which was developed to support the United States’ efforts to lead the world in commercializing American-made SMRs. Westinghouse and Ameren Missouri look forward to learning more about the next phase of this process in pursuit of DOE SMR funding. Earlier today, the DOE also announced that it had awarded investment funds under this program to Babcock & Wilcox Company.
"We look forward to continuing our discussions with the DOE on this important project for our country and our state," said Warner Baxter, president and CEO of Ameren Missouri. "In particular, we look forward to further demonstrating how the unprecedented alliance of key stakeholders throughout the state of Missouri, who have expressed strong support for this program, will help the Ameren Missouri-Westinghouse team deliver on the DOE's objectives for this project.”
Ameren Missouri, every electric energy provider (investor-owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities) in the state of Missouri and numerous key stakeholders throughout the state, including Gov. Jay Nixon, provided broad-based public support for Westinghouse’s SMR application. The project has received strong bipartisan support from federal and state policy makers, including U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt; U.S. Reps. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Lacy Clay and JoAnn Emerson; state Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey; state Sen. Mike Kehoe; state Rep. and House Speaker Tim Jones; state Rep. Jeanie Riddle; local and national labor leaders; the University of Missouri System; and suppliers and businesses across the state.
This alliance of energy providers and key stakeholders strongly believe that the state of Missouri is best positioned to become the hub for the commercialization of American-made SMRs in the United States and the world, and therefore deliver on this transformational economic development opportunity for our state and our country.
“The Westinghouse SMR has tremendous potential to advance clean nuclear energy technology and sustain U.S. nuclear industry leadership and competitiveness, and we have a partner in Ameren Missouri that is committed to collaborating with Westinghouse in this groundbreaking industry innovation," said Danny Roderick, Westinghouse president and chief executive officer. "We look forward to cooperatively working with the DOE to ultimately secure and match investment funds.”
Westinghouse and Missouri’s electric service providers and utility providers in other states formed the NexStart SMR Alliance to support Westinghouse’s SMR technology. Burns & McDonnell, a member of NexStart, will provide architectural and engineering support to design the power systems of the Westinghouse SMR. Gov. Nixon appointed a Local Government Task Force to marshal local resources for Westinghouse’s SMR application. He also appointed a state representative to the SMR Readiness Committee.
“Ameren Missouri, Westinghouse and the entire state of Missouri stand ready to capitalize on this important project that will help create a cleaner energy portfolio for our state and our country, and therefore help meet our future energy needs and strengthen our nation's energy security,” Baxter said. “Importantly, this team is capable and prepared to position the United States and the state of Missouri as the global hub for the development, manufacturing, and construction of SMRs, thereby creating a transformational economic development opportunity that could create thousands of sustainable, clean energy American jobs.”
# # #
About the Westinghouse SMR: The Westinghouse SMR is a 225 MW integral pressurized water reactor (PWR), with all primary components located inside of the reactor vessel. It utilizes passive safety systems and proven components, as well as modular construction techniques – all realized and already licensed in the nuclear industry-leading Westinghouse AP1000® nuclear power plant design. The Westinghouse SMR is designed to achieve the highest level of safety using a reduced number of required components. Westinghouse believes that this proven approach will provide licensing, construction and operational certainty that no other SMR supplier can match with competitive economics. For more information about the Westinghouse SMR, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com/smr/index.htm.
About Ameren Missouri: Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than a century, and our electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. We serve 1.2 million electric and 127,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. Our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers 63 counties and more than 500 towns, including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, visit AmerenMissouri.com.
CONTACT: Rita Holmes-Bobo, 314.554.2182, missouricommunications@ameren.com