Westinghouse and Ameren Missouri partner to apply for federal grant to develop small modular reactors

See Related Stories

Intro:	After law makers failed to pass legislation to allow the building of a second nuclear power plant over the past couple legislative sessions, there is now an alternative plan to increase nuclear energy in Missouri.
RunTime:	0:44
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Ameren Missouri and Westinghouse have partnered to apply for a grant from the Department of Energy to develop smaller nuclear plants.

By applying for a federal grant, no legislative action is needed to move forward with the plans.

Senior vice president of Westinghouse Dr. Kathryn Jackson says she expects this to be a long term relationship.

Actuality:	JACKSON.WAV
Run Time:	00:12
Description: "That first plant, we probably will be proving out that we can actually build this in 24 months. And then the follow on plants will be built in a factory, and that factory we will determine where to put that, is our goal is to have that in Missouri."

The multi-million dollar grant would require reactors be up and running by 2022.

The decision on the grant money is expected this coming Summer.

From the state capitol, I'm Sherman Fabes. Newsradio 1120 --- KMOX

Intro:	Ameren Missouri has partnered with Westinghouse to apply for a federal grant to develop small modular reactors, but they do not know how rate payers would be affected.
RunTime:	0:39
OutCue:	SOC

Wrap: Ameren Missouri is not allowed to charge rate payers for a project, before they see direct benefits from it.

Currently, Ameren does not know how the development of smaller nuclear plants will affect rate payers.

But, Ameren President and CEO Warner Baxter says it's too early to speculate.

However, he says the funding from the Department of Energy would be beneficial to ratepayers.

Actuality:	BAXTER1.WAV
Run Time:	00:04
Description: "That DOE funding certainly would be benefits that would be directly passed along to ratepayers"

The decision on the grant money is expected this coming Summer.

And if the multi-million dollar grant is received, reactors must be up and running by 2022.

From the state capitol, I'm Sherman Fabes. Newsradio 1120 --- KMOX