There continues to be a drumbeat to build a nuclear power plant in South Dakota, as seen in a July 14 op-ed in the Mitchell Republic newspaper, written by the former State Representative and Majority Whip, Isaac Latterell (R-SD). Latterell points out that only nuclear power provides sufficient reliable 24/7 “baseload” power needed for an advanced economy. Also in 2023 the state senate voted 34 to 0 in favor of a feasibility study to build a nuclear power plant in the state, and there has been some activity to build a uranium mine near Edgemont.
South Dakota has been on the cutting edge of nuclear development since at least the late 1950s when the state started work on a proof of concept nuclear plant built and operated in the mid 1960s near Sioux Falls. The Pathfinder Atomic Power Plant was built in part by Allis Chalmers, the tractor company, which used to have an Atomic Energy Division. It was small by today’s standards and only powered the grid for less than a year. It had problems with a steam separator and was later converted to a fossil fuel plant. However, it gave the local power utility, Northern States Power, the know-how and the skilled workers to build and operate its bigger and more permanent Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant near Red Wing, MN and the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant near Monticello, MN. The Pathfinder plant was so reliable and radiation levels were so low across the entire site that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission once wrote a reminder to the workers that their good record should not allow them to become lax about safety issues.
Currently the state’s power consumption is about 50% hydro-electric power generated along the Missouri River, and 25% nuclear power generated in Minnesota at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant near Red Wing, MN and the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant near Monticello, MN. Pathfinder was a source of pride, not only for the workers but also for the community. At the time, local brochures mentioned the nuclear plant as a tourist attraction. There are advantages to building large nuclear power plants near abundant sources of water so a more ideal site in South Dakota may be along the Missouri River.
