Disney World should have gone nuclearThere is extra significance to the American Nuclear Society holding its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, this past week. That’s because in 1967, the state of Florida passed a law allowing Disney World to build a nuclear power plant.Go to Article
Industry Update—November 2024Here is a recap of industry happenings from the recent past:ADVANCED REACTOR MARKETPLACE Startup Longview Fusion signs CRADA with LLNLThe Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Longview Fusion Energy Systems have reached a cooperative research and development agreement that builds upon the LLNL National Ignition Facility’s repeated demonstrations of fusion energy gain and supports Longview’s efforts toward the commercialization of fusion energy. The agreement calls for the national lab and the California company to combine their laser fusion science and technology expertise for the purpose of developing a performance/economic model that can optimize Longview’s fusion power plant designs. In addition, critical requirements are established for Longview’s fusion technology systems and facilities, while a technology road map to mature these systems is being developed. The new agreement complements a set of Department of Energy programs involving LLNL and Longview that are designed to accelerate the delivery of laser fusion energy according to the Biden administration’s Bold Decadal Vision for fusion commercialization. Go to Article
DOE opens funding opportunity for HALEU transport packagesThe Department of Energy announced November 19 that up to $16 million is available through a new High-Assay Low-Enrichment Transportation Package funding opportunity to research, develop, and acquire Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing for transportation of HALEU—using new or modified packages.Go to Article
NRC okays construction permits for Hermes 2 test facilityThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced yesterday that it has directed staff to issue construction permits to Kairos Power for the company's proposed Hermes 2 nonpower test reactor facility to be built at the Heritage Center Industrial Park in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The permits authorize Kairos to build a facility with two 35-MWt test reactors that would use molten salt to cool the reactor cores.Go to Article
Japanese researchers test detection devices at West ValleyTwo research scientists from Japan’s Kyoto University and Kochi University of Technology visited the West Valley Demonstration Project in western New York state earlier this fall to test their novel radiation detectors, the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management announced on November 19.Go to Article
Chris Wright is Trump’s DOE pickWrightOil industry executive Chris Wright has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the next secretary of energy. Wright is also to serve on Trump’s new Council of National Energy, which, Trump said in a statement over the weekend, “will consist of all departments and agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American energy.” Trump previously named North Dakota governor Doug Burgum as head of that council.Following the announcement of his selection, Wright posted on X, “My dedication to bettering human lives remains steadfast, with a focus on making American energy more affordable, reliable, and secure. Energy is the lifeblood that makes everything in life possible. Energy matters.”Go to Article
Reports: Israel destroyed active nuclear weapons research facility in IranU.S. and Israeli officials are now confirming that an October 25 Israeli attack in Iran destroyed an active top secret facility for nuclear weapons research, Axios reports. The strike is said to have significantly hampered efforts by Iran to resume weapons research, despite ongoing denials from the country’s leaders that there is an active weapons program.Go to Article
IAEA works to advance women in the nuclear communityA new program called Practical Arrangement, which has been created through a collaboration of the International Atomic Energy Agency and LinkedIn, aims to bring networking and training opportunities to women in the nuclear field. The partnership will provide essential resources, including training, research, and access to LinkedIn’s global network.Go to Article
Oklo plans to acquire radioisotope firm Atomic Alchemy for $25 million in sharesOklo Inc. has that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire Atomic Alchemy Inc., a U.S.-based radioisotope production company. The two companies announced a strategic partnership earlier this year.Go to Article
Framatome to produce Lu-177 at Romania’s CernavodaFramatome and SN Nuclearelectrica, a partially state-owned Romanian nuclear energy company, have entered into a long-term cooperation agreement to produce the medical isotope lutetium-177 at Cernavoda nuclear power plant in Romania. Lu-177 is a beta-emitting radioisotope used in targeted radionuclide therapy for the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and prostate cancer.Go to Article