Photo: GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP / Getty Images
A "next generation" nuclear power feasibility study finds that Sutherland, Beatrice, Brownville, and Norfolk are the top four communities best suited to host a next generation nuclear facility, based on current infrastructure and siting criteria.
The siting feasibility study was done at the direction of the Nebraska Legislature, which allocated $1 million to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development to fund the study.
That department then awarded the funds to the Nebraska Public Power District for the study.
NPPD operates Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville, Nebraska’s only nuclear power generator.
The first phase of the study identified areas around sixteen communities which were then evaluated more in depth during the second and final phase of the study.
Those communities included Beatrice, Brownville, Fremont, Grand Island, Hallam, Hastings, Holdrege, Kearney, Lexington, Nebraska City, Norfolk, Plattsmouth, Rushville, Sutherland, Valentine, and Wauneta.
The technical evaluation in the second phase was based on current criteria available from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for siting a nuclear generating facility, and the study highlights how the different communities performed in each of the evaluated areas.
The study is available for the public to view on NextGenNuclearNE.com.
(Picture from Getty Images)