While the gathering at Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Plant Friday morning was recognizing the facility’s 40th anniversary officially coming next week, Chief Nuclear Officer and Vice President Cleeve Reasoner says those in attendance were celebrating far more than just a birthday.
The celebration also recognized the history and future of the plant as well as the community of Burlington, which has both housed and benefited from the facility the last four decades.
At the time of the plant’s construction back in 1985, there was quite the debate as to the future of nuclear power and whether the risks outweighed the rewards. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, one of many dignitaries in attendance for Friday’s celebration, stated during her remarks that the plant, which has provided power to more than 20 percent of the state of Kansas, has helped to reduce the use of fossil fuels and reduce carbon emissions throughout its history.
Combined with the tremendous economic impacts the plant has had on both the local area and the state as a whole, she believes the plant’s results have helped illustrate the importance and need for nuclear power moving forward.
Another cause for celebration Friday was that the plant had received a license renewal for an additional 20 years of operation from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as announced by Reasoner earlier this week.
NRC Regional Administrator John Monninger spoke with KVOE News Friday and stated the renewal process is one of great rigor and intention.
Monninger also stated that Wolf Creek could continue operating past 60 years as once the license renewal comes to an end, the plant will be able to apply for an additional 20-year extension.
Wolf Creek currently generates 1,250 megawatts of energy and employs 750 to 1,500 people between normal operations and its regular refueling outages every 18 months.
Photos from Friday’s celebration by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
