The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recently announced its renewal of the Callaway nuclear power plant’s operational licensing for an additional 20 years.
The Fulton, Missouri, plant is fixed to operate through October 2044.
Owned and operated by the Ameren Corporation, the Callaway plant has one 1,190-megawatt Westinghouse single pressurized water reactor and a General Electric turbine-generator that produces nearly 19 percent of Missouri’s energy.
The Callaway plant had originally expected a renewal request decision in December, but concerns filed in September by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) alleging contaminated groundwater findings put the plant’s renewal on hold. That environmental dispute is still pending before the NRC.
On Feb. 26, the Commission ultimately denied the MCE’s request to suspend licensing of Callaway’s reactor. After completing the necessary environmental and safety inspection, the NRC concluded that the plant meets all provisions for licensing renewal and granted its authorization on March 4.
Callaway is the 76th commercial nuclear power reactors in the U.S. to have its licensed renewed, while 18 additional operating renewal applications are under review.
For more information regarding those reviews and the renewal process, visit the NRC website.
