October, 2010

"Nuclear's solid record in Arkansas demonstrates its real potential to help stabilize electricity costs and provide a clean, reliable, cost-efficient source of energy for all of Entergy's customers," said Dr. Patrick Moore, co-chair of the national Clean and Safe Energy (CASEnergy) Coalition and co-founder of Greenpeace Dr. Patrick Moore, co-chair of the national Clean and Safe...

Our facility has delivered safe, clean, reliable and low-cost energy to Texans for more than 20 years," said Ed Halpin, President and CEO of STP Nuclear Operating Company STP Nuclear Operating Company has filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to extend the operating licenses of its two-unit facility an additional 20 years. The extension would allow the two units...

Westinghouse Electric Company announced the appointment of George Hobbs to the position of vice president, Manufacturing Processes. In his new position, Mr. Hobbs will be responsible for integrating and sustaining throughout the company the Westinghouse Manufacturing System -- a business practice model that joins best practices from the nuclear and manufacturing industries in an integrated system...

"Although the regulatory environment is still uncertain for some power projects, we have begun to see meaningful results from our nuclear power contracts in the U.S," said J.M. Bernhard Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer. The Shaw Group Inc. announced financial results for fiscal year 2010 and the fourth quarter ended Aug. 31, 2010.

Companies to Pursue Potential Development of GEH's Generation IV PRISM Reactor GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC, (SRNS) today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the potential of deploying a prototype of GEH's Generation IV PRISM reactor as part of a proposed demonstration of small modular reactor technologies...

USEC Inc. was informed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that it has largely completed its initial technical review of USEC's application for the American Centrifuge Plant and is proceeding to the next stage of the loan guarantee process. DOE has provided USEC with a draft term sheet that will serve as a framework for discussions between USEC and the DOE.

The refueling outage for Cook Nuclear Plant Unit 2 will be extended by two to three weeks for repairs to internal components of the reactor vessel. The plant, owned and operated by Indiana Michigan Power, a unit of American Electric Power, had an initial projected return-to-service date of Nov. 6. Routine inspections following removal of the fuel assemblies identified damaged bolts from the reactor...

On the news of the agreement between EDF and Constellation, Jacques Besnainou, CEO of AREVA North America, said: "This agreement is very good news, because it creates favorable conditions for the continued development of a U.S. EPR project in Maryland, which would create thousands of jobs and spur billions of dollars of investment for the region."

Potential New Nuclear Power Plants at Calvert Cliffs, Nine Mile Point, and R.E. Ginna will transfer to EDF via UniStar Sole Ownership EDFand Constellation Energy today announced that the companies are pleased to have reached a comprehensive agreement that restructures the companies' partnership, eliminates the outstanding put option and establishes the full ownership of UniStar Nuclear Energy...

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) today announced its next-generation reactor model, the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR), has passed a crucial safety review performed by an advisory committee for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Completion of this review clears a key hurdle in the company's bid for design certification of the ESBWR, which now begins the federal rulemaking...

"If you believe in reducing our carbon footprint, in energy independence and in creating jobs for our economy then nuclear power is the answer. It's time we got this message out." Entergy Chief Nuclear Officer John Herron said One of the nation's nuclear leaders, Entergy Chief Nuclear Officer John Herron, encouraged future business leaders to seriously consider the nuclear energy...

AREVA announced yesterday the appointment of Elizabeth Sellers as Senior Vice President, Program Development of the group's Federal Services Division. She reports to Bill Gallo, President and CEO of AREVA Federal Services.

B&W Pantex once again achieved a level of safe performance that ranks the company among the safety leaders in the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) complex for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. Since arriving at Pantex Plant in February 2001, B&W Pantex has improved the Total Recordable Case Rate by 88 percent and the Lost Time Case Rate (also known as Day Away Case Rate...

Thomas L. Sanders, the past president of the American Nuclear Society, will focus on the development of private sector partnerships and direct the lab's science and technology support for the development of small nuclear reactors and other energy concepts in the park. An energy park at SRS would leverage the site's resources -- including the land, infrastructure, technologies and highly...

German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended Saturday her plans to grant a longer legal lifetime to nuclear power, saying it would fund investment in renewable energy technology.

International Nuclear Energy Development of Japan Co., Ltd. (JINED), a new company headquartered in Tokyo whose mission is to present proposals to countries that are going to build their first nuclear power stations. JINED was founded with outlays by a total of 13 Japanese companies, consisting of nine electric utilities, three manufacturers, and the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan.

Coreworx Inc., a provider of project information and cost control software used globally to manage major capital project execution risk, and EXCEL Services Corporation, the internationally recognized leader in licensing, technical and regulation services for the nuclear industry are pleased to announce their strategic partnership.

"Nuclear safety is the foundation upon which our entire program has been built and we are honored to become part of the WANO community," said Mohamed Al Hammadi, ENEC's Chief Executive Officer. The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has joined the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), which unites the world's commercial nuclear power plants to achieve the highest...

A one-year study intended to assess the statewide consequences of uranium mining in Virginia begins this week when a National Academy of Sciences panel convenes for two days in Washington, D.C. The 13-member study committee has a broad charge to assess the implications of lifting a 1982 ban on uranium mining in Virginia. Its conclusions are due in December 2011, and will be key to any General Assembly...

NTPC Ltd is searching for global reactor companies for partnering on new nuclear power projects. The energy company, which already has a minority stake in a partnership with its state-owned counterpart Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) for setting up nuclear units, also plans to firm up independent collaborations with global reactor vendors to set up imported Light Water Reactor-based...

"We believe we have a responsibility to minimize the amount of waste we produce while we refurbish our reactors, reducing our environmental footprint. That's why recycling the clean components of steam generators is the right thing to do." said Duncan Hawthorne, Bruce Power's President and CEO. Bruce Power launched a new website today to continue to provide the public with facts...

According to news reports, Progress Energy has announced a leadership change at its H.B. Robinson Nuclear Plant near Hartsville, which has had a series of system problems this year. Robert J. "Bob" Duncan II will return to Robinson from his current role as vice president-nuclear operations. He replaces Eric McCartney, who has served as Robinson's site vice president since 2008.

Japan said today it had agreed with Vietnam to cooperate on nuclear power plant technologies and materials, as Tokyo competes with nuclear exporters such as France and South Korea. "We've reached a substantial agreement... Both sides hope to work together towards a quick signing and conclusion of the deal," Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara told a news conference. He added that...

Japan Atomic Power Co said on Thursday it would delay the October start of construction of two reactors at its Tsuruga nuclear plant in northern Japan due to safety checks. Japan Atomic Power said the delay was due to longer than expected safety checks by the trade ministry. It gave no new date.

There are approximately 250 operating civilian research and test reactors worldwide, of which around 75 use highly enriched uranium (HEU) as their fuel. But the use of HEU has the potential of nuclear proliferation as it could also be used for producing material used for nuclear weapons. The IAEA works with global partners focusing on how to convert HEU reactors to ones that can use low enriched uranium...