Primary Author: Jeffrey Bittle, Revised by: Grace McKevitt and Ceilidh Kern

Nuclear Energy: An Untapped Gold Mine for Missouri

Our State’s Situation

Currently, Missouri has room to improve both economically and in terms of energy production. We have one nuclear power plant: the Callaway Nuclear Generating Station near Fulton. Missouri consumes 11 times more energy than it produces, and the vast majority of our consumption comes from coal and natural gas, both of which are becoming less cost-effective and more dangerous to our environment. There are 115,000 unemployed people in the state, and many of those who do have jobs are severely underpaid. This especially applies to our rural communities, many of which have been detrimentally affected by outsourcing and the loss of family farms. Nuclear power plants, on average, provide up to 800 well-paying jobs year-round, and thousands more during seasonal repairs. This could provide much-needed support to Missouri’s economy. 

What are the Benefits of Nuclear Energy?

Not only does nuclear power provide promising economic benefits, but it is crucial in combating rapid climate change. Nuclear plants emit no carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, a necessary step in fighting global warming. Nuclear power is also more efficient and reliable than other renewable options. A single nuclear reactor produces as much energy as around 431 wind turbines or over 3 million solar panels. Overall, nuclear facilities produce 20% of the country’s energy — and there are only 94 reactors. Nuclear power also produces less waste than any other source of energy. Specifically, solar panels generate 300 times as much waste as nuclear facilities do. 

Is Nuclear Energy Safe?

Nuclear has been a source of contention and fear for many audiences during the past few decades. The term itself recalls images of disasters such as Fukushima, Chornobyl, and Three Mile Island. However, such instances are not reflective of the increases in safe nuclear technology in the years since. In fact, according to an analysis by chemists at Harvard University, similar accidents have been made impossible due to technological advancements. Moreover, technology has perfected the storage of nuclear waste to ensure it is impossible to be harmful to the public. According to environmentalists, the ability to store nuclear waste on-site makes it the “holy grail” of energy production.

Why Don’t We Already Have More Nuclear Energy?

Nuclear power plants are astonishingly expensive to construct. Specifically, it cost $3 billion to construct Missouri’s Callaway Facility. However, in most states that have had success in the nuclear sector, this process is subsidized. Missouri, in contrast, banned the subsidization of nuclear power plant construction through a ballot measure in 1976, an era during which fears about the safety of nuclear energy were much more legitimate. In order to make the expansion of nuclear power economically feasible, this law would almost definitely need to be repealed.