May, 2010

GEH Deal With SNC-Lavalin Polska to Enhance Support of Poland’s Nuclear Energy Initiative - By Stephen Heiser - GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) has announced a new workforce training initiative and second preliminary project development agreement as GEH expands its support of Poland’s plans to build commercial nuclear power plants to help strengthen the country’s energy security and reduce...

Based on the results of this inspection, the NRC determined that Entergy-Vermont Yankee (ENVY) appropriately evaluated the contaminated groundwater with respect to off-site effluent release limits and the resulting radiological impact to public health and safety; and that ENVY complied with all applicable regulatory requirements and standards pertaining to radiological effluent monitoring, dose assessment...

Nearly two thirds (64%) of all voters now say nuclear power is needed as part of a balanced energy source for the UK, according to the poll commissioned by EDF Energy. The net agreement figure of +53% is now higher than in any of the previous four years that EDF Energy has carried out its annual tracker poll - By April Murelio - Voters of all three main political parties support nuclear power...

The MOX facility, which will be owned by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, is part of an effort to make surplus weapons-grade plutonium into more proliferation-resistant forms. Converting the plutonium into MOX fuel will enable it to be used in commercial reactors to generate electricity - Source NRC - U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials in Atlanta...

Entergy is leveraging the IndyCar Series partnership to educate the public about the green benefits of nuclear power and to aid college and university student recruiting efforts - By Stephen Heiser - Entergy, the second-largest provider of nuclear-generated electricity in the U.S., is calling upon Simona De Silvestro to once again be the brand ambassador for the national Nuclear Clean Air Energy...

Dassault Systèmes (DS), a leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, has announced the availability of Abaqus 6.10, the leading unified Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and multiphysics product suite for realistic simulation from SIMULIA

MHI will be responsible for pump design and manufacture, and Weir will take charge of sales support, project management, installation and after-sale services - By Stephen Heiser - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has reached an agreement with Weir Power & Industrial Division of the Weir Group PLC of the UK, a leading nuclear power plant maintenance service provider in the UK, to...

We are taking action to restart the nuclear industry as part of a broad approach to cut carbon pollution and create new clean energy jobs,” said Secretary Chu. “These projects will help us develop the nuclear technologies of the future and move our domestic nuclear industry forward - Edited by April Murelio - U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has announced the selection of 42 university-led...

Nuclear power plants have two options for the storage of spent nuclear fuel: It can be stored in a plant’s circulating-water spent fuel pool or in dry cask storage, which involves removing fuel from the pool, placing it in a stainless-steel cask and then moving that cask to a large steel-reinforced concrete vault located outside on plant grounds - Source NRC - Nuclear Regulatory Commission...

This is yet another step towards USEC meeting the criteria for a loan guarantee. I know that USEC will submit the financial documents to the U.S. Department of Energy soon, and I encourage the Department to review the information expeditiously so the loan guarantee process continues to move forward - Edited by Stephen Heiser - U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH) issued a statement today...

State-owned CNNC could start building two 800-megawatt experimental fast reactors around 2013 and operations may start before 2020. China plans to master the technology by 2020, and the company has started an experimental program for the fast-reactor technology for commercial use - Edited by Chris Smith - According to A Bloomberg report, China is in talks with Russia and France on possible...

The SSGF recognizes an ever-increasing demand for scientists highly-trained in areas of interest to stewardship science. Students selected for this fellowship represent a strong academic background in a scientific or engineering discipline, and the program provides them up to four years of support while pursuing a doctoral degree in one of three major areas: materials under extreme conditions and hydrodynamics...

Goal Is to Enable Successful Deployment of Leading Edge Uranium Enrichment Technology for Commercial Nuclear Power Plants; Boost for Nuclear Renaissance; Support for Ohio-based American Centrifuge Project - By Stephen Heiser - In a sign that the future of nuclear energy is bright, USEC Inc., a global nuclear fuel and technology company, has announced that nuclear industry leaders Babcock &...

The preferred location for a potential new plant would be adjacent to PSEG Nuclear's Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations now in operation in Lower Alloways Creek, Salem County. The site is currently the second largest nuclear facility in the United States - By Linton Levy - PSEG Power and PSEG Nuclear have filed an Early Site Permit (ESP) application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory...

AREVA and its customer – Entergy Nuclear’s Palisades Power Station in Michigan – were honored with the “Best of the Best Award” for the innovation of a device, the gimbaled head - By April Murelio - AREVA was recognized nationally by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and three winning customers at the annual Top Industry Practice (TIP) Award program held at the 2010 Nuclear Energy Assembly...

Completing a nuclear unit is one option that would help us meet our customers' growing needs and provide a reliable and safe power source at significantly less cost per installed kilowatt than other generation options - By Mark McFadden - The Tennessee Valley Authority has issued the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the generation options associated with Bellefonte Nuclear...

Announcement comes as Obama Administration Celebrates National Small Business Week - By Chris Smith - National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has announced that it has awarded two of NNSA’s most important Information Technology contract orders to small business contractors. The announcement of this new contract comes days after President Obama declared May 23-29 national Small Business...

The coveted Top Industry Practice awards rank among the nuclear industry’s most prestigious recognitions - By Stephen Heiser - Entergy Nuclear employees at Palisades Power Plant took home the highest honor at the Nuclear Energy Assembly in the annual Top Industry Practice Awards. The Entergy Palisades team from Covert, Mich., was the maintenance category winner and also earned the top honor...

The current role of GEH’s Chairman of the Board and President & CEO will be split into two positions, effective July 5. Fuller will remain as Chairman of the Board, and Caroline Reda will become President & CEO - By Stephen Heiser - With the world’s increasing concerns about climate change and the rising demand for energy, nuclear energy is enjoying a global resurgence as one of the...

On March 8, 2010, the Tenth Circuit denied the original petition by several parties opposed to uranium mining for review of URI’s NRC license, which the Commission issued to Hydro Resources, Inc. (HRI), Uranium Resources’ wholly-owned subsidiary - By Linton Levy - Uranium Resources, Inc. (URI), has announced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has denied a petition...

The US-APWR is in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s design certification process which is scheduled for completion in 2012 - By Stephen Heiser - Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc. (AEHI) Last week executives visited Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, LTD. in Kobe, Japan to discuss the benefits of the US-APWR for the Idaho nuclear site.

Based on industry best practices, PAM is used by other nuclear plants with great success. Because equipment reliability is one of our four focus areas for 2010, having this tool available at Bruce Power will help us stay on top of current PMs, as well as pave the way for any future improvements - By Amanda Steinhoff (originally posted via The Point) - Bruce Power engineering now has another...

Ms Dewberry will serve as our lead package design and licensing engineer and will be tasked with managing our engineering services from our newly opened office in Hanford, Washington - By Stephen Heiser - WMG, Inc is pleased to announce the addition of two highly qualified engineering professionals to its staff. H. Michael Anderson, an industry veteran with over 25-years experience, is a well...

Professor Mosala will work to maintain and build relationships with key stakeholders in the South African nuclear industry. He brings extensive government, political and academic experience to Westinghouse in South Africa - By Linton Levy - Westinghouse Electric Company has announced the appointment of Professor Itumeleng Mosala as the company's regional vice president in South Africa....

“NextEra Energy, Inc., is a strong and fitting name for this innovative, competitive, forward-thinking energy company” The company announced the proposed name change on March 19, 2010 - By Linton Levy - The shareholders of FPL Group, Inc. have voted to change the name of the company to NextEra Energy, Inc.