April, 2010

Nations voice differing opinions on the recycling of spent fuel at DC summit - Edited by April Murelio - According to a report by Bloomberg, debate over the recycling of nuclear fuel by reactor suppliers such as France’s Areva SA surfaced in Washington as U.S. officials sought to skirt the issue during President Barack Obama’s summit.

Historic Arizona Water Agreement Ensures Electric Power, Wastewater Treatment in Valley Through 2050 - Edited by April Murelio - Five Valley cities, Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project have announced a preliminary agreement of a 40-year comprehensive water contract to provide cooling water essential to power production at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, the nation’s largest...

Investments include numerous enhancements to the energy-delivery system (smart grid projects), modernization of the company's power generating fleet and, in the longer term, new advanced nuclear generation - Edited by Chris Smith - Progress Energy delivered on its commitments to customers and shareholders in 2009 despite a significant economic decline, and the company is focused on effectively...

Utilities contend that the DOE has collected over $33 billion since 1983, never came for nuclear waste and has no federal waste management plan - By Stephen Heiser - The Nuclear Energy Institute and over a dozen utilities companies have filed suit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to stop paying fees on spent fuel that the government was supposed to collect decades...

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quake at 7.2 magnitude, correcting its previous measurement of 6.9 magnitude. The quake struck in Baja California, Mexico, southeast of Mexicali, at 5:40 p.m. (2240 GMT), according to the USGS - By Chris Smith - The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in Southern California remained intact after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook the region on...

“Renewing the operating license of the Sequoyah plant will allow us to continue to provide reliable, safe and clean electricity for the consumers in our service area,” said Chief Nuclear Officer Preston Swafford - By Mark Mcfadden - The Tennessee Valley Authority is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the potential effect of extending the operating licenses for its two...

For more than 50 years, the Forum has successfully promoted the peaceful, safe and efficient use of nuclear power in Japan, helping to make this country one of the most advanced users of nuclear technology in the world - by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano - Mr. Takashi Imai, President of the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum, Mr Yosuke Kondo, Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Economy, Trade...

According to the MOU agreement, AREVA and FNEG will work together on the site selection and initial development of a nominal 1,600 Megawatt U.S. EPR reactor - By Stephen Heiser - AREVA and the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group, LLC (FNEG) have announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop the country's most advanced Clean Energy Park near Fresno, California, including...

Over the next year, NPPD will take the actions necessary to transition into a 24-month refueling cycle. Normally, NPPD refuels its nuclear power station every 18 months. The majority of nuclear stations designed like Cooper conduct their refueling outages every 24 months - By Stephen Heiser - Getting good gas mileage and saving money at the pump is as important for a car as it is when refueling...

Jim Gagnard, SmartSignal CEO, Announces Significant Product Innovation - By Linton Levy - In a stakeholder meeting recapping 2009 and launching 2010, SmartSignal CEO Jim Gagnard noted that the company’s recent new product introductions have been pivotal to SmartSignal’s success. The new products that are part of SmartSignal’s strategic roadmap will define the next major stage of Predictive...

As amany as 25 million hours of work for as many as 6,000 construction workers over five years - Edited by Linton Levy - Nuclear Innovation North America LLC (NINA), the nuclear development company jointly owned by NRG Energy, Inc. and Toshiba Corporation, has announced an agreement for the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD) of the AFL-CIO to provide skilled union labor to construct...

The AMWTP is an important component in the mission to characterize, treat, package, ship and dispose of the estimated 30,200 cubic meters of waste currently remaining - Edited by Stephen Heiser - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that CH2M HILL Newport News Nuclear, LLC (CHN), was selected to lead the estimated $592 million Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP). The...

Fairbanks Morse Engine is a leading supplier of diesel generator sets to the nuclear power industry, with a history reaching back to 1968. At present, 39 commercial nuclear reactors in North America depend on Fairbanks Morse diesel engines - By April Murelio - Fairbanks Morse Engine, an EnPro Industries company, announced today that it has been awarded a contract to supply six safety related...

Lorenzini stressed NuScale’s commitment to submitting a high quality design certification document (DCD) of its small modular reactor to the NRC for review - By Stephen Heiser - NuScale Power remains on track to submit its design application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in early 2012 with the goal of having a power plant that uses its modular, scalable reactor technology in operation...

“The peaceful use of nuclear energy will enable the state to meet the requirements of society through proper planning,” - By April Murelio - Saudi Arabia has announced the establishment of the King Abdullah Nuclear and Renewable Energy City in Riyadh and has declared that it will use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially in industry, agriculture, mining, desalination, and the medical...

Thermo Scientific RadEye PRD helps border guards, customs agents or counterterrorism teams detect radiation sources more effectively than conventional personal detectors - By April Murelio - Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has announced that its Radiation Measurement & Security Instruments business has been awarded two U.S. patents for radiation instruments that can help protect the public...

Unit back up after brief unplanned outage after successful completion of scheduled maintenance - By Stephen Heiser - Workers at PPL's Susquehanna nuclear power plant in Luzerne County, Pa., successfully completed planned maintenance on a water heating system and resumed generating electricity from the plant's Unit 2 early Monday (4/26).

Demand from new and existing nuclear power stations is set to drive the moisture separator reheater market. Currently, 56 new nuclear reactors are under construction across the globe and are expected to come online during the period 2010-2020 - Edited by Mark McFadden - “Global Nuclear Moisture Separator Reheater Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2020” is the latest research from GlobalData...

AREVA has successfully disassembled for the first time the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of a commercially operated nuclear power station - By Stephen Heiser - The AREVA dismantling team has cut a 320-ton reactor pressure vessel into more than 250 individual parts. The success of the project in Würgassen gives proof of the high level of professionalism with which AREVA is also involved in the...

Session Remarks As Prepared The Honorable Gregory B. Jaczko, Chairman U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, at the International Forum on Nuclear Safety Challenges in the Flat, Mixed, and Open World - Seoul, South Korea - Source NRC - Just a decade ago, few people inside or outside the Nuclear Regulatory Commission would have foreseen a significant increase in applications to build and license...

Task Order contract valued at $1.99M awarded through MTOA - By Chris Smith - ARSEC Environmental, LLC, a Joint Venture between American Radiation Services, Inc. (dba ARS International) and Safety and Ecology Corporation (SEC), was awarded a task order by Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS) to perform the decontamination and demolition (D&D) of the DP West cluster of buildings located...

Nearly 90 percent of FPL’s generation now comes from emissions-free nuclear units and low-emissions natural gas units - By Chris Smith - In celebration of Earth Day, Florida Power & Light Company announced today that its power generation fleet delivered 35 percent cleaner power than the industry average in 2009 – a new record in clean generation for the utility.

FPL Group posts solid financial results; FPL and NextEra Energy Resources own, or hold undivided interests in, nuclear generation facilities in four states - By Chris Smith - FPL Group, Inc. has reported 2010 first quarter net income on a GAAP basis of $556 million, or $1.36 per share, compared with $364 million, or $0.90 per share, in the first quarter of 2009. On an adjusted basis, FPL Group...

HOMELAND SECURITY CAPITAL CORPORATION’s Subsidiary Awarded DOE Hot Cells Stimulus Project at ORNL SEC’s Contract Accelerates Cleanup - Edited by April Murelio - Homeland Security Capital Corporation, an international provider of specialized technology-based radiological, nuclear, environmental, disaster relief and security solutions to government and commercial customers, announced today that...

Henri Poupart-Lafarge, 40, is a graduate of Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées and the Massachussetts Institute of Technology - By Stephen Heiser - Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Chief Financial Officer of Alstom and member of the Executive Committee, will be appointed Executive Vice President and President of the new Sector that will regroup the electricity transmission activities...