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Getting back to yes: A local perspective on decommissioning, restart, and responsibility
For 45 years, Duane Arnold Energy Center operated in Linn County, Ia., near the town of Palo and just northwest of Cedar Rapids. The facility, owned by NextEra Energy, was the only nuclear power plant in the state.
In August 2020, a historic derecho swept across eastern Iowa with winds approaching 140 miles per hour. Damage to the plant’s cooling towers accelerated a shutdown that had already been planned, and the facility entered decommissioning soon after, with its fuel removed in October of that year. Iowa’s only nuclear plant had gone off line.
Today the national energy landscape looks very different than it did just six short years ago. Electricity demand is rising rapidly as data centers, artificial intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and electrification expand across the country. Reliable, carbon-free baseload power has become increasingly valuable. In that context, Linn County has approved the rezoning necessary to support the recommissioning and restart of Duane Arnold and is actively supporting NextEra’s efforts to secure the remaining state and federal approvals.
During ANS Teacher Workshops, educators interact with nuclear professionals to explore basic concepts, learn about experiments and demonstrations suitable for the middle school and high school classroom, and experience hands-on activities to share with their students.
The ANS teacher workshops are possible as a result of the tremendous support from ANS members who volunteer their time and expertise. Workshops are hosted by the Center for Nuclear Science and Technology Information.
ANS's e-newsletter for educators, ReActions, provides subscribers with articles on nuclear science, suggestions for classroom activities, and information about upcoming events. If you are interested in receiving ReActions at no charge,please sign up here.
ANS also publishes classroom resources and activities that explain, in grade-appropriate language, the many uses of the atom and the vital role of nuclear technology.
For students, ANS offers broad perspective on the many careers related to nuclear science. The Society provides scholarship opportunities to students studying for careers in the field. Also offered is the Ask an Expert section. If you have a nuclear technology related question, just submit it to ANS. One of the experts will respond with an answer.
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Last modified February 12, 2019, 3:28pm CST
