Callaway Nuclear Generating Station

On November 19, 2005, its workers finished replacing all four steam generators in 63 days, 13 hours, a world record for a four-loop plant.{{cite web |date=2005-11-21 |title=Callaway Nuclear Plant Returns to Service Following Refueling and Maintenance; Sets World Record for Steam Generator Replacement |url=http://ameren.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=182 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714064755/http://ameren.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=182 |archive-date=2011-07-14 |access-date=2008-07-29 |publisher=Ameren}}

In 2014, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission tests found contaminated ground water near the site.{{Cite web |last=Slavit |first=Mark |date=2014-08-05 |title=Callaway nuclear plant well water samples have radioactivity |url=http://krcgtv.com/news/neighborhood/callaway-nuclear-plant-well-water-samples-have-radioactivity |access-date=2019-03-27 |website=KRCG}}

The plant experienced three unplanned shutdowns in 2020. On December 24, 2020, an electric fault on the non-safety main generator caused an extensive outage requiring the replacement of significant components. The components were replaced, inspected, and tested during subsequent months.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-04 |title=Callaway Energy Center still at zero power |url=https://www.newstribune.com/news/2021/mar/04/Callaway-Energy-Center-still-at-zero-power/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=News Tribune |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=May 11, 2021 |title=CALLAWAY PLANT – INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT |url=https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2113/ML21131A220.pdf |access-date=2023-01-07}} According to NRC inspection reports, on August 2, 2021, the reactor was restarted. Two days later on August 4, 2021, the main turbine generator was synchronized with the electrical grid and on August 8, the plant reached rated thermal power.{{Cite web |date=November 8, 2021 |title=CALLAWAY PLANT – INTEGRATED INSPECTION REPORT 05000483/2021003 |url=https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2130/ML21306A347.pdf |access-date=2023-01-07}}{{Cite web |last=Directors |first=Clarion Energy Content |date=2021-08-10 |title=Ameren Missouri's 1.19-GW Callaway nuclear plant back in operation after generator rewind |url=https://www.power-eng.com/om/ameren-missouris-1-19-gw-callaway-nuclear-plant-back-in-operation-after-generator-rewind/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=Power Engineering |language=en-US}}

According to Ameren, Callaway accounted for 23% of the utility's generation mix in 2022.{{Cite web |date=26 September 2023 |title=Ameren Missouri - Integrated Resource Plan |url=https://www.ameren.com/-/media/missouri-site/files/environment/irp/2023/ch1.ashx |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=Ameren Missouri}}

On July 28, 2008, Ameren Missouri applied to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) to build a 1,600-MW Areva Evolutionary Power Reactor.{{cite web |author=Dan Yurman |date=2008-07-28 |title=Ameren files for 2nd reactor with NRC |url=http://djysrv.blogspot.com/2008/07/ameren-files-for-2nd-reactor-with-nrc.html |access-date=2008-07-29 |work=Idaho Samizdat: Nuke Notes}} Ameren sought to construct this second reactor in order to meet their projected increase in demand for electricity over the next decade.{{cite web |date=2008-07-28 |title=Ameren Missouri Submits Combined Construction and Operating License Application for a Second Nuclear Generating Unit |url=http://ameren.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=512 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412021659/http://ameren.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=512 |archive-date=2009-04-12 |access-date=2008-07-29 |publisher=Ameren}}

In April 2009, the proposal was cancelled. One stumbling block was a law that forbids utilities to charge customers for the interest accrued on a construction loan before a new plant produces electricity. The new nuclear reactor would have cost at least $6 billion.[http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/?q=node/18179 Nuke plant is, well, nuked. Not gonna happen]Terry Ganey. [http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/apr/23/amerenue-pulls-plug-callaway-2/ AmerenUE pulls plug on project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713074254/http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/apr/23/amerenue-pulls-plug-callaway-2/|date=2012-07-13}} Columbia Daily Tribune, April 23, 2009.

In April 2012, Ameren Missouri and Westinghouse Electric Company announced their intent to seek federal funding for a new generation of nuclear reactors to be installed at the Callaway site. The U.S. Department of Energy could provide up to $452 million in research and development funds to Westinghouse. The new reactors would be smaller and, the companies claimed, safer in design than any currently operating. Ameren Missouri was to apply to license up five of the 225-megawatt reactors at the Callaway site, more than doubling its current electrical output.{{cite news |date=2012-04-19 |title=Federal aid sought to build nuclear reactors in Missouri |newspaper=The Kansas City Star |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2012/04/19/3565561/federal-aid-sought-to-build-nuclear.html |access-date=2012-04-20}}

In August 2015, a month after Ameren had announced plans to build solar energy plants in Missouri,{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Jacob |title=Ameren seeks to build massive solar array along I-70 |url=https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/ameren-seeks-to-build-massive-solar-array-along-i/article_c76cae45-f9d7-52c6-ac30-8fd4d42a6c64.html |access-date=2019-09-22 |website=stltoday.com |language=en}} all plans to expand nuclear-powered electricity generation at the site were scrapped.{{Cite web |title=Latest News | S&P Global Platts |url=http://www.platts.com/latest-news/electric-power/louisville-kentucky/ameren-decision-to-scrap-plans-for-new-missouri-21898870}}

File:Callaway Nuclear Generating Station (49963537367) (cropped).jpg

The cooling tower at Callaway is {{convert|553|ft}} tall. It is 430 feet wide at the base, and is constructed from reinforced concrete. It cools about {{convert|585000|gal}} of water per minute when the plant is operating at full capacity; about {{convert|15000|gal}} of water per minute are lost out the top from evaporation.{{cite web |title=Callaway Facts and Figures |url=https://www.ameren.com/callaway/ADC_FactsandFigures.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411235450/http://www.ameren.com/callaway/ADC_FactsandFigures.asp |archive-date=2009-04-11}} Another {{convert|5000|gal}} of water are sent to the Missouri River as "blowdown" to flush solids from the cooling tower basin. All water lost through evaporation or blowdown is replaced with water from the river, located five miles from the plant. The temperature of the water going into the cooling tower is {{convert|125|°F}}, and the tower cools it to {{convert|95|°F}}. The tower is designed such that if it were to somehow topple over completely intact, it would not damage any of the critical plant structures.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission defines two emergency planning zones around nuclear power plants: a plume exposure pathway zone with a radius of {{convert|10|mi}}, concerned primarily with exposure to, and inhalation of, airborne radioactive contamination; and an ingestion pathway zone of about {{convert|50|mi}}, concerned primarily with ingestion of food and liquid contaminated by radioactivity.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/emerg-plan-prep-nuc-power.html|title=Backgrounder on Emergency Preparedness at Nuclear Power Plants|publisher=Nuclear Regulatory Commission|access-date=2019-12-22}}

The 2010 population within {{convert|10|mi}} of Callaway was 10,092, an increase of 3.8 percent in a decade, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data for msnbc.com. The 2010 population within {{convert|50|mi}} was 546,292, an increase of 15.0 percent since 2000. Cities within 50 miles include Fulton (11 miles to city center), Jefferson City (26 miles to city center), and Columbia (32 miles to city center).{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna42555888|title=Nuclear neighbors: Population rises near US reactors|last=msnbc.com|first=Bill Dedman Investigative reporter|date=2011-04-14|website=msnbc.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-27}}

In August 2010, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's estimated that the annual chance that an earthquake might damage the core at Callaway was 1 in 500,000,{{Cite web |date=2011-03-16 |title=What are the odds? US nuke plants ranked by quake risk |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna42103936 |access-date=2024-08-16 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/NEWS/quake%20nrc%20risk%20estimates.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525170632/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/NEWS/quake%20nrc%20risk%20estimates.pdf |archive-date=2017-05-25 |access-date=2011-04-19}} the lowest probability of any U.S. reactor.

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• {{cite web

| url= http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/at_a_glance/reactors/callaway.html

| title= Callaway Nuclear Plant, Missouri

| date= September 22, 2008 | publisher= U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

| access-date= 2008-11-14 }}

• {{cite web

| url= https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/call.html

| title= Callaway Pressurized Water Reactor

| date= February 14, 2008 | work= Operating Nuclear Power Reactors | publisher= NRC

| access-date= 2008-11-14 }}

• {{cite web

| url= https://www.nrc.gov/reactors/new-reactors/col/callaway.html

| title= Callaway, Unit 2 Application

| date= October 31, 2008 | work= New Reactors | publisher= NRC

| access-date= 2008-11-14 }}

• [http://www.ameren.com/callaway/ Ameren's information page for Callaway]
• [https://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/call.html NRC Facility Info]

{{U.S. Nuclear Plants}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Callaway County, Missouri

Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1984

Category:Nuclear power plants in Missouri

Category:Nuclear power stations using pressurized water reactors

Category:Towers completed in 1984