January, 2010

“The nuclear energy industry pledges to work with President Obama and Congress to enact policies that stimulate the expeditious development of clean-energy technologies, including new nuclear energy facilities, to help meet these challenges.” - By Linton Levy - Nuclear Energy Institute President and Chief Executive Officer Marvin Fertel made the following comment in reaction to President Obama...

"With this major investment, Westinghouse reaffirms its commitment to pursue its development in Nivelles for better support to its customers to provide clean, safe and reliable energy in Europe." - By Stephen Heiser - Westinghouse Electric Company, the world's pioneering nuclear company, has inaugurated its European Pump and Motor Maintenance and Repair Center here to provide...

Paul Fischer, a senior computational scientist, was awarded 30 million hours on Argonne’s Blue Gene/P as well as additional time at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to conduct simulation and analysis of fast neutron reactors - By Stephen Heiser - Five researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory will lead projects that have been awarded a total of 80 million hours...

The peak power of the laser light, which was delivered within a few billionths of a second, was about 500 times that used by the United States at any given time - By Linton Levy - The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced that scientists at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have successfully delivered an historic level...

Even as the agency considers new licensing applications, the NRC must stay focused on its core mission of ensuring the safety and security of existing reactors - Edited by April Murelio - Good morning. The Commission meets today to receive its annual program briefing from the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR). In their presentations today, the staff will review the status of NRR’s...

Nuclear energy amongst 10 infrastructure project categories analyzed in the report - By April Murelio - Changes to U.S. economic and tax policies can add 2.9 million jobs by 2019, while more than 3.5 million jobs can be created in each of the next three years by supporting investment in 10 key infrastructure project categories, according to Jobs for America: Investments and policies for economic...

The TELEPERM XS systems will be delivered by AREVA into the Russian test center of VNIIAES end of 2010. The first unit of Novovoronezh-2, located south of Moscow, will be connected to the grid in 2012 - By Linton Levy - AREVA and VNIIAES1 , a subsidiary of Russian State Corporation Rosatom, have signed a contract for the delivery of the TELEPERM XS safety Instrumentation and Control (I&C...

We are very pleased with these new orders and the steady growth of B&W’s nuclear product line for the U.S. government,” said Winfred Nash, President of Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group - By Stephen Heiser - McDermott International, Inc. has announced that The Babcock & Wilcox Company (“B&W”), through a subsidiary, has received an award of approximately $450 million...

“We have achieved excellent results with the simulator and appreciate L-3 MAPPS’ level of engagement,” said Roger Lufi, simulator supervisor at Axpo’s Beznau Nuclear Power Plant. “We are pleased to advance the Beznau simulator with L-3’s latest simulation technology.” - By Linton Levy - L-3 MAPPS has signed an agreement with Switzerland’s Axpo AG to update the Beznau full scope simulator with...

Outreach aimed at recruiting next generation of nuclear science professionals - By Chris Smith - The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has commemorated the first annual National Nuclear Science Week. Sponsored by the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, N.M., National Nuclear Science Week is dedicated to celebrating the history of nuclear science as...

NRG Energy Inc. to Hold Conference Call on Friday, January 29 to Discuss STP 3&4 Nuclear Project Status in Light of CPS Litigation - By Stephen Heiser - NRG Energy, Inc. has scheduled a conference call on Friday, January 29 at 8:00 am eastern to discuss the STP 3&4 nuclear project status in light of the ongoing dispute with our partner, CPS Energy, the municipal utility of San Antonio...

The judge specifically rejected NRG’s contention, that if CPS Energy were to withdraw from the STP expansion it would forfeit its entire interest in the project - By Linton Levy - After more than a dozen motions filed against CPS Energy by NRG Energy since Dec. 30, Bexar County District Judge Larry Noll, has denied NRG Energy’s motion for summary judgment.

FPL Group reports GAAP earnings of $1.62 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.65 billion for full-year 2009, NextEra Energy Resources faced a challenging fourth quarter but achieved good financial performance for the full year, Favorable weather boosted Florida Power & Light Company’s quarterly and full-year earnings amid a continued weak economy - By Stephen Heiser - FPL Group, Inc. has...

The Toshiba 4S - By Duncan Williams - In November of 2009, the U.S Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources introduced legislation that would provide funding to the Department of Energy for the development of small nuclear reactors. The Nuclear Power 2021 Act (S. 2812) would allow the federal government to fund 50% of the cost of the development and licensing of two different small...

Project provides storage capacity for material in centralized area - By Stephen Heiser - The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced that NNSA Administrator Thomas P. D'Agostino has authorized the start-up of the new Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility (HEUMF) at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The start-up of this new storage facility...

In the first quarter of fiscal 2010, which ended on December 31, 2009, Siemens generated revenue of €17.4 billion - By Linton Levy - Löscher: “Our actions early on are cushioning us from the ongoing repercussions of the recession.” Siemens was again profitable in the first quarter of the new fiscal year. Despite declining revenue, nearly all the company’s businesses reached their defined margin...

Proponents want to escrow funds and use some funds to build safe storage facility in-state - By April Murelio - Minnesota State legislators will consider establishing a Nuclear Waste Storage Commission to address economic and safety issues that come with long-term nuclear waste storage.

Russia's Rosatom will build 6-8 nuclear power plants in West Bengal - Edited by April Murelio - According to a report in the doamin-b news, Russia will build six to eight nuclear power generating units in Haripur in West Bengal, the head of Russian Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), Sergei Kiriyenko said in Moscow. He noted that India's decision on new construction site is crucial...

Using Alternative to Highly Enriched Uranium/Government Selects GEH to Develop U.S. Supply of Widely Used Isotope, Helping Address Shortage - By Stephen Heiser - GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) announced today it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to help develop a U.S. supply of a radioisotope used in more than 20 million diagnostic...

NNSA Cooperative Agreement Funding Will Support Further Development of Low Enriched Uranium System - By Linton Levy - Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services Group, Inc. (B&W TSG) has been awarded approximately $9 million from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for the company’s medical isotope production program. Awarded under a cooperative agreement, the funding will...

New report provides detailed analysis of the Aregintinian energy and utilities market - By April Murelio - A newly published Mexico Power Report on companiesandmarkets.com forecasts that, by 2014, the country will account for 10.34% of Latin American regional power generation. The Latin America power generation estimate for 2009 is 1,110 terawatt hours (TWh), a decrease of 1.8% from the previous...

The decision came down to simply removing the word “only” in the comprehensive plan. Currently it states that industrial development can “only” occur on Simco Road. Commissioners agreed by removing the word, it would open the door to more development in other sections of the county, including a possible nuclear power plant. - By Linton Levy - According to a report from Alternate Energy Holdings...

Four 1.25 million kW nuclear power units using the AP1000 technology are expected to be installed in the first phase - Edited by Chris Smith - The first nuclear power plant in Jilin Province is scheduled to start construction in 2012, said Wang Rulin, Deputy Governor of Jilin, in the Government Work Report. The Chisong nuclear project, to be located in Jingyu County, will involve an investment...

The NRC's beleaguered staffers call the cause of all this uproar "the tsunami" - Edited by April Murelio - According to a report in the Tri-City Herald, The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is bursting out of its headquarters. Buses shuttle among four buildings where the commission has leased overflow space

Under cap-and-trade, carbon-intensive Midwest adds jobs, remains competitive - By Stephen Heiser - In an address to the Indiana Council on World Affairs and Indiana Businesses for a Clean Energy Economy, Exelon Chairman and CEO John W. Rowe said yesterday that cap-and-trade is the most economic way to address climate change, especially in carbon-intensive Indiana, which gets about 95 percent...