University of Missouri gets federal grant for nuclear industry training

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The nuclear power industry received a boost Monday with a $2.3 million federal job-training grant for the University of Missouri-Columbia, home to the nation's largest campus research reactor.

The U.S. Department of Labor grant, announced by Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and Missouri Sens. Jim Talent and Kit Bond, follows a similar $7 million grant the University of Missouri received last year from the federal Department of Energy, said nuclear engineering professor William Miller.

The Department of Energy grant enabled Miller and colleagues at Linn State Community College to create an Advanced Technology Center for nuclear industry job training in Mexico, Mo.

Miller described the Linn State effort as a pilot program in which 28 students are pursuing two-year associate degrees for eventual careers as radiation protection technicians. While most of those trained will eventually work in the nuclear power industry, the need also exists at hospitals, universities and in private industry, he said.

The grant announced Monday will enable Missouri officials to develop a uniform curriculum and expand the program to link community colleges and energy companies in Arizona, California, Texas and Virginia, said Chao. The effort could lead to 200 new jobs, she predicted.

"There are employers out there waiting for the graduates of these programs," she said. "There is a worker shortage in this industry."

The industry too is poised to expand, which would mean a greater demand for new employees to replace a rapidly aging work force.

After decades of dormancy fueled by public concern and critical fallout following accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, several utilities are in discussions with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Authority to build new nuclear power plants.

"This couldn't be more timely," said Talent. "We're expecting to see ... a restarting of the nuclear energy industry."

A spokesman for St. Louis-based Ameren Corp., which is considering building a second plant at its Callaway County nuclear facility, said the industry is poised to attract fresh recruits.

"People were reluctant to get into these types of professions because no new nuclear plants were being built," said Ameren spokesman Mike Cleary. "Now there's a lot of attention being paid to building new plants. It's opened up the nuclear industry again as a viable career choice."

The Missouri effort will be known as the Center for Excellence for Radiation Protection Technology, Education and Training. The training program will be offered at Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg, Va.; MiraCosta Community College in San Diego, Calif.; Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas; and Estrella Mountain Community College near Phoenix, Ariz.

More community colleges could join the program later, Miller said.