COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — SMALLER, CHEAPER, FASTER: Utilities across the country are pitching small modular nuclear reactors as more cost-effective alternatives that can be built quickly and require fewer regulatory hurdles.
THE COMPETITION: Missouri’s effort involves a partnership between Ameren Missouri and Westinghouse Electric Co. Three other proposed projects have been made public: a bid by Holtec International of New Jersey to build an underground reactor at the Savannah River site near Aiken, S.C.; an alliance between Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Energy and the Tennessee Valley Authority for the utility’s Cinch River site west of Knoxville; and NuScale Power of Corvallis, Ore., which would also build its reactors at the Savannah River site.
THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE: The U.S. Department of Energy expected to announce the winner of its $452 million grant by this summer. Project boosters now say they hope to find out by September. The federal government may decide to split the money between two applicants, who must then pledge to invest an equal amount in their projects.
