The Nebraska Public Power District and the state identified Sutherland, Beatrice, Brownville and Norfolk as the best candidates for future small modular reactor facilities following a two-phase siting feasibility study, officials said.
The Legislature allocated $1 million to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to fund the study, which was led by 1898 & Co., part of Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company, on behalf of the utility that operates the state’s only nuclear plant, Cooper. The evaluation began with a first phase that screened 16 communities and moved to a more detailed technical assessment in a second phase.
“During the second phase, our team was able to work with the sixteen communities who allowed us to come talk with the public about both this siting study and nuclear technology as a whole,” said Tom Kent, Nebraska Public Power District president and CEO. “Those conversations were positive across the state and are extremely valuable as we highlight the tremendous benefits nuclear power can provide to both a local community and the customers we serve.”
The study used the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s criteria for siting nuclear power facilities as the technical basis for its evaluations, the utility said. Officials described the second phase as an in-depth review that narrowed the candidate list to the four communities now ranked highest on infrastructure and siting metrics.
why the study matters
- State funding: The Nebraska Legislature provided $1 million to the Department of Economic Development for the effort.
- Study leadership: 1898 & Co., affiliated with Burns & McDonnell, conducted the technical analysis at the request of Nebraska Public Power District.
- Existing nuclear operations: NPPD operates the Cooper nuclear power plant, an 810-megawatt boiling water reactor, which was cited in materials accompanying the study.
Officials said outreach to communities was a component of the second phase. Kent characterized the conversations as positive and framed the study as part of highlighting potential benefits that new nuclear facilities could bring to local communities and utility customers.
The report’s reliance on NRC siting criteria indicates the technical standards that would guide any future proposal.
Work on the feasibility study followed the Legislature’s action to fund the assessment and reflects growing interest among some policymakers and utilities in small modular reactor technology as a potential tool for meeting power needs while affecting reliability and carbon emissions.
