English (United States)
My career at Nebraska Public Power District started 34 years ago as a young engineer at Cooper Nuclear Station (CNS) in Auburn. It was there I became well acquainted with fellow colleagues who were tenacious in their pursuit of excellence in safely and reliably operating the plant every day, 24-7. But, it didn’t start with them. Over the last five decades, generations of people have come together to build, maintain and improve CNS operations. Their relentless contributions are why CNS is the state’s longest and currently only operating nuclear power plant and one of just 94 nuclear power reactors in the nation providing carbon-free energy to customers. Indeed, it is quite a milestone and honor to celebrate 50 years of operation at CNS this year.
NPPD has always had a rich history at the leading edge of commercial nuclear power generation, thanks to the foresight of our predecessors. Our education began in March of 1955, when Hallam Nuclear Power Facility – using a sodium cooled graphite moderated reactor – was constructed at the Sheldon Station power plant site south of Lincoln. While this particular reactor design proved challenging at the time, the experience helped to inform some of today’s next generation nuclear reactor designs like the TerraPower Natrium reactor. This initial operating experience strengthened our confidence in pursuing future nuclear projects.
It wasn’t until June 4, 1968, that NPPD (known as Consumers Public Power District at the time) received permission to begin construction of CNS, using more than 90,000 cubic yards of concrete and 10,000 tons of steel in the process. The plant began commercial operation July 1, 1974. Its General Electric BWR/4 reactor is capable of generating a nominal 800 megawatts of electricity.
CNS received a license renewal from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in November 2010, extending the operating license to January 2034. This past February, NPPD’s Board of Directors authorized management to pursue a subsequent license renewal that, if approved by the NRC, would extend the operating license to January 2054.
Since its inception, CNS has achieved many notable accomplishments. In 1998, it was the first plant in the U.S. to load nuclear fuel containing uranium that had been provided under the Megatons to Megawatts Program, in which uranium removed from nuclear weapons of the former Soviet Union was turned into low-enriched uranium and then into fuel. That program helped make the world safer and powered the Nebraska economy.
In turn, throughout these last 50 years, CNS has generated approximately 275 million MWhs of carbon-free electricity, eliminating emissions of approximately 275 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Our focus on operational excellence is paramount as we pursue our goal to become carbon neutral by 2050.
In fact, at the startup up celebration for Plant Vogtle Unit 4 this spring, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said that to reach this same goal for our nation, we have to “at least triple our current nuclear capacity in this country. That means we’ve got to add 200 more gigawatts by 2050.”
Because of our experience and history of nuclear excellence, NPPD is proud to be one of 21 utilities in the U.S. entrusted by the NRC to begin this endeavor. With funding by the Nebraska legislature through the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, we are conducting a preliminary siting study for small modular nuclear deployment in Nebraska. Though not a guarantee a plant would be built in state, the first phase of that study is now complete, and we will next begin work to narrow down potential sites to two or four locations most suitable and open to such a project, as well as evaluate fitting nuclear technologies.
We continue to work with the Advanced Nuclear Coalition to educate Nebraskans and advocate for the benefits of new nuclear projects. We also appreciate the trust, confidence, and support of the Nebraska legislature and the Governor Pillen administration in pursuing the potential for future nuclear energy projects in Nebraska.
Like operating a nuclear power plant, public power is unique and special. NPPD is proud to be one of the 2,000 public power systems in the nation who serve 54 million customers in total. Nebraska is the only 100% public power state in the nation, and we exist for one reason: to serve our customers and provide them with the best of public power – transparent operations, and affordable, reliable, resilient, sustainable, and safe energy supply. We would not be here today without the trust our customers have placed in all of us to deliver on the vision and mission of public power. Successfully operating CNS is a large part of that.
Just as our predecessors did in the last century, we are presented with a once in a generation opportunity to leverage their innovative spirit to pave a path for the next generation of clean, safe, and reliable nuclear energy to power Nebraska’s future.
And if I know one thing, it’s that when it comes to setting our sights on a better future for all, no one does it quite like Nebraskans.
