Lawmakers tour Callaway Energy Center
Ameren Missouri hosts members of the Missouri General Assembly during tour of its nuclear power plant
Incoming and returning members of the Missouri General Assembly recently received a behind-the-scenes tour of Ameren Missouri's Callaway Energy Center. The only nuclear power plant in Ameren Missouri's fleet, the 1,284 MW-generating energy center was declared operational in 1984. Located in Callaway County, the nuclear plant sits 25 miles northeast of Jefferson City. Prior to the construction of the plant, more than 70 sites were considered across four states before the current site in Callaway County was selected for the energy center.
Newly elected and returning lawmakers tour the control room at the Callaway Energy Center.
"The Callaway Energy Center is an impressive facility, and I appreciate Ameren Missouri for inviting me on the tour," said Rep. Donnie Brown, R-New Madrid. "As a member of the Missouri General Assembly, the opportunity to learn more about the nuclear plant and its role within Ameren Missouri's generation fleet was an insightful and valuable learning experience."
The second largest power generator in Ameren Missouri's fleet, the Callaway Energy Center is a highly efficient, low-cost source of electricity for the company's 1.2 million customers. The power produced at the nuclear plant plays an important role in Ameren Missouri's ability to keep its electric rates well below the Midwest and national averages.
An iconic image of the plant, the Callaway Energy Center's cooling tower stands 553 feet tall — 77 feet shorter than the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. When operating at full power, the tower can cool 585,000 gallons of water per minute. A major source of economic development in the area, the nuclear power plant employs more than 700 Ameren Missouri employees and contractors and hundreds more during the plant's refueling outages, which occur every 18 months. For more information on the Callaway Energy Center, please visit ameren.com/missouri/company/environment-and-sustainability/nuclear.