The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was part of the US Atomic Energy Commission's Power Demonstration Reactor Program, which developed experimental nuclear reactors that could supplement steam generation for electricity production. In 1956, the commission accepted Director of Municipal Utilities John P. Gallagher's proposal to build a reactor in Piqua, and the following year Congress set aside $11.465.000 for the project. The Piqua Nuclear Power Facility was the first nuclear power plant of any type to be operated by a municipal utility. It reached criticality in 1963, and for a few years Piqua proudly called itself "The Atomic City." The reactor was shut down due to technical issues and economic considerations in 1966. It was fully decommissioned by February 1969. The facilities were demolished in 2023.