Plans to build a new nuclear plant in Missouri continue despite threat of nuclear meltdown in Japan.

Intro:	One Missouri lawmaker says the threat of a Japanese-style nuclear meltdown will not affect plans to expand Missouri's nuclear energy production.
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Wrap: Jefferson City Republican Senator Mike Kehoe is sponsoring a bill to allow Ameren to build a second nuclear power plant in Missouri.

He says Japan's nuclear disaster will not affect the legislation or the state's demand for energy.

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Description: "The way we produce power in this state is unfortunatley not going to be changed by what happens globally."

Kehoe says violent earthquakes do not pose as much of a threat in Missouri as they do in Japan.

As Missouri Senators consider allowing Ameren to charge ratepayers for the cost of a site permit for a new plant, some in Congress say the president should halt all construction of nuclear plants.

From the state Capitol, I'm Helena Kooi.

Intro:	As explosions rock nuclear reactors in Japan, talks continue about adding a new nuclear plant in Missouri.
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Wrap: Last Friday's natural disaster in Japan has not deterred Ameren from wanting to build a second nuclear power plant in Missouri.

Ameren's Business Operations Supervisor Rick Eastman says the situation in Japan has not affected the company's plans.

Eastman says the Japanese plant is older than the existing plant in Calloway County.

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Description: "Different technology, different design, different manfacturer."

Eastman says the problems in Japan should not prevent the construction of a plant in Missouri.

A Senate committee is discussing a bill to allow Ameren to pass off the costs of obtaining an early site permit to ratepayers.

Reporting from Jefferson City, I'm Helena Kooi.

Intro:	As the nuclear crisis continues to unfold in Japan, plans to build Missouri's second nuclear plant remain unchanged.
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Wrap: The nuclear disaster caused by last week's earthquake and tsunami in Japan has raised concerns about a proposed nuclear plant in Calloway County.

A Missouri Senate committee is considering legislation that would allow Ameren to charge ratepayers for the cost of a site permit for the new plant.

Ameren's Business Operations Supervisor Rick Eastman says the nuclear hysteria in Japan has not affected the company's plans here.

He says the company will continue to seek the early site permit necessary to build a new nuclear plant even as some in Comgress call on President Obama to stop all nuclear plant projects.

From Jefferson City, I'm Helena Kooi.