RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas's only nuclear power plant hit a big milestone in 2024.
The large cloud of smoke that is emitted from the grounds is not hard to miss while driving down I-40 in Russellville.
Though many Arkansans might not know exactly what is done inside the plant.
Since 1974, Arkansas Nuclear One has delivered safe and reliable energy and this week, those who have experienced its 50-year journey got the chance to celebrate the big milestone.
"We've been planning for several months to have the anniversary celebrated. It's actually unit one's birthday on the 19th. So this was the best day to celebrate," said Josh Toben, the Site VP Coordinator for Arkansas Nuclear One.
When we hear the word nuclear power it can be a difficult concept to grasp. However, Toben said that it's not as hard as you think.
"In our state, you have an opportunity with Arkansas Nuclear One being unit one & unit two, to create a large amount of the clean energy in the state, which is, again, a pretty cool opportunity," Toben said. "So when I want to find a way to turn the lights on, I've got to have that, and I can do that in a clean, green way, different from many other places that you live in the country. So to do that safely and reliably is an essential element for us."
When it comes to keeping those lights on, it's not solely by the large cloud of smoke which is also known as the cooling tower. We can also thank those in the control room, who operate the brains of the nuclear power plant.
Each gadget and flashing light inside holds a unique duty— making up 500,000 volts to provide for homes, schools, hospitals, and communities overall.
"To have the responsibility of controlling their activity, to be in a room controlling the electric power that goes out to the grid, to be in a room keeping the community safe. It's a lot of responsibility back to the operators of our nuclear power facilities," Toben said.
Arkansas Nuclear One Training Manger, Eric Nicholson, took crowds of Entergy officials through a tour in the simulated control room built back in 1991.
Nicholson also explained the roles of each operator inside and how they truly make the magic happen.
"All these switches are how we ensure that we have all the equipment running to make that. First off, the chain reaction happens from the Raptor core, then transfers that heat over to our steam generator, send that that that steam over to our turbine, which goes over behind, just behind you, and that turns our generator, sending power off-site," said Nicholson.
There has also been a 50-year misconception that has traveled all across the Natural State in regard to the plant.
"Everybody asks, When's the nuclear plant gonna blow up? Well, the nuclear plants not gonna blow up. It's just not, just not capable of blowing up," Toben explained.
Through each playing part, the control room is so much more than the operations. It's a way to keep workers and members of the community safe.
"You know, we're always chasing this excellent work. That's our outward bodies looking at how we're producing power. Are we doing it safely, are we doing it reliably? Are we doing it cost-effectively," Toben said.