For weeks after the potential of a new nuclear reactor coming to the local area seemed to be the main talking point for several local entities, conversations have since hit a bit of a standstill for local leadership.
During the monthly Q&A with Trey Tuesday morning, Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking says the city, and other entities involved in the discussions, have been in a holding pattern of sorts between local leadership, the Kansas Department of Commerce and TerraPower.
If you recall, late last year, TerraPower and Evergy signed a memorandum of understanding that also included the Kansas Department of Commerce regarding the potential to house a new natrium reactor within the state of Kansas.
Shortly after this news broke, Lyon County, the Regional Development of East Central Kansas and the City of Emporia all signed letters of support in an effort to bring the project to Lyon County. Coffey County Commissioners would follow suit, vocalizing their desire to see the project brought to Coffey County, which has housed Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Station for the last 40 years
In the time since the project’s potential was announced, debate has sparked between residents regarding the need for and risks of such a project. Detractors have stated the main concerns revolve around safety for residents near the reactor.
Cocking acknowledged said concerns Tuesday, saying there is risk with any new venture, just as there likely was with nuclear power when it became a common source of generation decades ago. That said, Cocking also stated there is a tremendous need for innovation, noting the projected impact on the power grid in the coming years is a cause for alarm.
As for the safety concerns, Cocking again referred to nuclear power,r noting that in the decades since it became the standard for energy production, there have truly only been three major disasters related to the industry, with the most devastating and infamous being the Chornobyl meltdown in Russia in 1987. While that cannot be ignored, Cocking stated that the situation had more to do with societal culture rather than nuclear power itself, noting the standards of safety versus results between the US and, the USSR are vastly different.
There is currently no word on when TerraPower will announce the site of its new natrium project in Kansas. KVOE News will continue to provide updates as they are made available.
