Iowa’s only nuclear power plant,  is celebrating  40 years of operation with the release of a report showing its economic impact in  the state. Governor Branstad joined company officials Wednesday for a celebration at the Duane Arnold Energy Center outside Palo.

Richard Anderson,  a vice-president for Duane Arnold’s owner NextEra Energy,  says the plant  opened in 1974 with a commitment to safety and the highest standards. “We have  met that commitment and will continue to meet that commitment because we live here too,” Anderson says.  A report by the Nuclear Energy Institute says the plant contributes $250 million annually  to Iowa’s economy and employs some 600 workers.

Governor Terry Branstad congratulated the operators of the plant and  pointed out its employees  make more than double the average wage in Benton County, and more than 50-percent more than in Linn County.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission  has relicensed the facility for another 20 years.  Other aging nuclear plants have recently shut down because of expensive repairs. “I think that’s a very  low probability  at Duane Arnold,” Anderson says.  Anderson says the company continues to monitor efforts to approve  long-term storage for spent fuel in the western united States. But he says in the meantime, Duane Arnold has the capacity for storage for 60 years. He says  new technologies have made the plant safer than it was when it opened 40 years ago.

Duane Arnold’s  owner NextEra Energy  recently negotiated a long-term contract with Alliant Energy to provide power to a million Iowa homes and businesses.  Duane Arnold produces 8-percent of the state’s electric power.