JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, the National Governors Association and the U.S. Department of Energy, hosted Missouri’s first Nuclear Summit on Thursday. The event attracted more than 550 scientists, lawmakers, local leaders, citizens and stakeholders who convened in Columbia to join the conversation about the future of energy in Missouri.
Discussions at the summit centered around nuclear as a tool to help Missouri meet energy reliability, affordability and economic competitiveness goals, while maintaining a legacy of safety and environmental stewardship.
“We are at a pivotal moment where we can choose to reshape Missouri’s energy landscape in a significant way, and the decisions we make will define our state for the rest of the century,” said Kurt Schaefer, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resource. “Capitalizing on this momentum will show that Missouri can be a forerunner in nuclear technologies. Otherwise, Missouri could lose out on the monumental amount of private sector investment and jobs up for grabs to states that succeed in delivering a carbon-free and reliable energy landscape.”
Summit attendees heard from national nuclear experts about proven technologies as well as cutting-edge new technologies. Local community leaders spoke about public safety, revenue and job creation. Other leaders offered insights into the forecasted economic investments Missouri communities are competing for, led by unprecedented growth in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and data centers.
Experts and panelists acknowledged challenges with new nuclear deployment in the current energy landscape, including large project financing, transmission interconnections and permit processing timelines.
“The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is committed to carrying the conversation forward and working with experts and partners to expand Missouri’s nuclear energy production to advance clean energy, promote long-term sustainable development and enhance energy resilience,” said Schaefer.
The department is grateful to the National Governors Association and the U.S. Department of Energy for this opportunity, to the University of Missouri for hosting, and to break sponsors MU College of Engineering and MU Research Reactor.
To learn more about the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Energy, visit dnr.mo.gov/energy.