Public Power - January/February 2009 - (Page 25) shifts while being aware of everything going on at the plant, Weaver said. There are no quick staffing solutions for a profession where knowledge and skill must accumulate over many years, and where safety and prudence is paramount. “Typically, by the time you retire, you are a senior person in the control room, probably a shift manger or control-room supervisor,” said Cade. “It takes many years to bring someone up to that level. We are trying to fill those positions from the bottom up, but it takes three to five years to produce the first-level reactor operator license.” With retirements beginning to accelerate, competition for technical talent is looming on the horizon, creating its own set of potential problems. “The urgency to get people licensed and into the control room is so great, that companies may be sending people up to be looked at by NRC who may not be ready,” said Weaver. The challenge is all the greater for larger utilities needing to feed greater numberds of candidates into multiple classes. “We knew this retirement surge was coming and, like other nuclear utilities, we’re trying to find alternatives to what the Navy has traditionally afforded,” said Weaver. They are looking at universities and community colleges to help fill the void. “We are seeing some efforts around the country to revitalize nuclear engineering programs, although not in the Midwest. Here in Omaha, we are at the front end of discussions with one community college, and have established a relationship with the Cooper Nuclear Station in Nebraska, and Wolf Creek down in Kansas to explore regional solutions.” Some community colleges appear receptive to establishing associate degrees, or Bachelor of Science degrees in relevant fields. The nuclear industry has been giving consideration to establishing a nuclear training academy for entry-level positions, Cade said. “I don’t know where it stands, but the idea is very intriguing because it would provide a place for everybody to go to recruit. If it takes off, my guess is that it would grow to be more regional.” An industry-sponsored academy might be an idea whose time has come. Cade www.APPAnet.org and Weaver expect the staffing challenge to grow larger with new nuclear plants on the horizon, and the preliminary plans for staffing under way.” They are concerned that these new plants might begin to try to pull from the shrinking pool of seasoned operators around the nation, including those at Fort Calhoun. “Our biggest fear is that we would invest several hundred thousand dollars on an individual and get him up to this level and have him go some- where else,” said Cade. Weaver added, “We are attuned to the situation and want to ensure that our compensation and incentives are competitive.” As nuclear operations training becomes more critical, the nuclear industry will likely look to Fort Calhoun as a role model and a benchmark of excellence. ❚ Brent Barker is a freelance writer in Palo Alto, Calif. See ou 2009 Retech 27 Feb 25 s ga Las Ve Booth 5 09 r booth at: Offering an array of financing alternatives for the commercial, municipal and federal energy management marketplaces. PROGRAMS: Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Lease, Lease Purchase & Loan Agreements Integrated Energy Services Agreements (ISAs) Build, Own, Operate and Maintain Agreements (BOOM) Federal ESPC and area wide Contracts Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs) For more information contact: Dick Rai, Manager Phone: 661-799-0440 Dick.Rai@NationalCity.com www.NC-4Energy.com ld gy Wor le Ener newab Re 10-12 March egas sV a Rio - L 513 Booth See ou r booth at: January-February 2009 25 http://www.NC-4energy.com http://www.APPAnet.org
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Public Power - January/February 2009 Public Power - December 2008 Contents Perspective 10 Questions Heat or Eat? Achieving Excellence in Nuclear Operations Training Grand Ambitions for Wind Power Visions of Green Carbon Trading Across The Pond Reliability Green Energy Customer Service DEED Hometown Connections Parting Shot Public Power - January/February 2009 Public Power - January/February 2009 - Public Power - December 2008 (Page Cover1) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Public Power - December 2008 (Page Cover2) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Public Power - December 2008 (Page 1) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Public Power - December 2008 (Page 2) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Contents (Page 3) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Contents (Page 4) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Contents (Page 5) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Contents (Page 6) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Contents (Page 7) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Perspective (Page 8) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Perspective (Page 9) Public Power - January/February 2009 - 10 Questions (Page 10) Public Power - January/February 2009 - 10 Questions (Page 11) Public Power - January/February 2009 - 10 Questions (Page 12) Public Power - January/February 2009 - 10 Questions (Page 13) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Heat or Eat? (Page 14) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Heat or Eat? (Page 15) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Heat or Eat? (Page 16) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Heat or Eat? (Page 17) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Heat or Eat? (Page 18) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Heat or Eat? (Page 19) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Achieving Excellence in Nuclear Operations Training (Page 20) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Achieving Excellence in Nuclear Operations Training (Page 21) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Achieving Excellence in Nuclear Operations Training (Page 22) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Achieving Excellence in Nuclear Operations Training (Page 23) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Achieving Excellence in Nuclear Operations Training (Page 24) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Achieving Excellence in Nuclear Operations Training (Page 25) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Grand Ambitions for Wind Power (Page 26) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Grand Ambitions for Wind Power (Page 27) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Grand Ambitions for Wind Power (Page 28) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Grand Ambitions for Wind Power (Page 29) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Grand Ambitions for Wind Power (Page 30) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Grand Ambitions for Wind Power (Page 31) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Visions of Green (Page 32) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Visions of Green (Page 33) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Visions of Green (Page 34) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Visions of Green (Page 35) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Carbon Trading Across The Pond (Page 36) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Carbon Trading Across The Pond (Page 37) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Carbon Trading Across The Pond (Page 38) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Carbon Trading Across The Pond (Page 39) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Reliability (Page 40) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Reliability (Page 41) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Reliability (Page 42) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Green Energy (Page 43) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Customer Service (Page 44) Public Power - January/February 2009 - DEED (Page 45) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Hometown Connections (Page 46) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Hometown Connections (Page 47) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Parting Shot (Page 48) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Parting Shot (Page Cover3) Public Power - January/February 2009 - Parting Shot (Page Cover4)
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