Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Action needed to achieve tripling of global nuclear capacity target, says NEA - World Nuclear News

Action needed to achieve tripling of global nuclear capacity target, says NEA - World Nuclear News

Centrus Signs Contract with Department of Energy for $900 Million Award; Intends to Transition HALEU Production Cascade to Commercial Operation

Centrus Signs Contract with Department of Energy for $900 Million Award; Intends to Transition HALEU Production Cascade to Commercial Operation

Turner Industries expands nuclear manufacturing footprint in Louisiana - BIC Magazine

Turner Industries expands nuclear manufacturing footprint in Louisiana - BIC Magazine

Google and RWE Back German Nuclear Startup Proxima Fusion at €2.4 Billion Valuation | Financial Post

Google and RWE Back German Nuclear Startup Proxima Fusion at €2.4 Billion Valuation | Financial Post

Nuclear fusion gets rare tritium push for next-gen reactors in UK

Nuclear fusion gets rare tritium push for next-gen reactors in UK

Centrus Signs Contract with Department of Energy for $900 Million Award; Intends to Transition HALEU Production Cascade to Commercial Operation

Centrus Signs Contract with Department of Energy for $900 Million Award; Intends to Transition HALEU Production Cascade to Commercial Operation

AI and energy: How Westinghouse is riding the momentum of a nuclear revival | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

AI and energy: How Westinghouse is riding the momentum of a nuclear revival | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Right-Sizing Nuclear Materials Security | The Breakthrough Institute

Right-Sizing Nuclear Materials Security | The Breakthrough Institute

What We Are Reading: Environmental and Energy Stories » CBIA

What We Are Reading: Environmental and Energy Stories » CBIA

Powerful wind gusts knocked Fermi 2 offline | The Blade

Powerful wind gusts knocked Fermi 2 offline | The Blade

US nuclear reactor reaches criticality for 10-MWe data center power

US nuclear reactor reaches criticality for 10-MWe data center power

US nuclear reactor reaches criticality for 10-MWe data center power

US nuclear reactor reaches criticality for 10-MWe data center power

Why Texas lawmakers can't keep up with data centers - POLITICO

Why Texas lawmakers can't keep up with data centers - POLITICO

NRC proposes to overhaul reactor licensing regulations in executive order rulemaking - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

NRC proposes to overhaul reactor licensing regulations in executive order rulemaking - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

Constellation files to extend the life of two upstate New York nuclear plants

Constellation files to extend the life of two upstate New York nuclear plants

Monday, July 6, 2026

A Nuclear Reactor That Can’t Melt Down? Here’s How It Works

A Nuclear Reactor That Can’t Melt Down? Here’s How It Works

Fukushima Nuclear Accident's 8th Anniversary: Book Review: An Alarming Inside View from the Top of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)

Fukushima Nuclear Accident's 8th Anniversary: Book Review: An Alarming Inside View from the Top of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)

A Florida startup just unveiled the world's first full-scale 3D-printed nuclear reactor module, a ceramic sphere with 2-millimeter channels winding through it in a shape no lathe on Earth can cut, designed so it physically cannot melt down: cut the neutron supply and the reaction simply stops

A Florida startup just unveiled the world's first full-scale 3D-printed nuclear reactor module, a ceramic sphere with 2-millimeter channels winding through it in a shape no lathe on Earth can cut, designed so it physically cannot melt down: cut the neutron supply and the reaction simply stops

US moves to eliminate long-time radiation safety principle for nuclear power

US moves to eliminate long-time radiation safety principle for nuclear power

A Reply to Another Carefully Worded Defense of Nuclear Power | Sierra Club

A Reply to Another Carefully Worded Defense of Nuclear Power | Sierra Club

NRC releases 253-page proposal to overhaul nuclear security regulations across four major areas

NRC releases 253-page proposal to overhaul nuclear security regulations across four major areas

NRC is (sort of) getting rid of "as low as reasonably achievable" standard - Ars Technica

NRC is (sort of) getting rid of "as low as reasonably achievable" standard - Ars Technica

Fresh look needed at licensing approach for small reactors - Likhachev - World Nuclear News

Fresh look needed at licensing approach for small reactors - Likhachev - World Nuclear News

DARPA plans 30-year endurance nuclear waste batteries to power next-gen drones, says report — project SYMPHONEE aims to harvest Strontium-90 to power persistent military drones | Tom's Hardware

DARPA plans 30-year endurance nuclear waste batteries to power next-gen drones, says report — project SYMPHONEE aims to harvest Strontium-90 to power persistent military drones | Tom's Hardware

These light-weight power cells run on nuclear waste and could power next-gen drones - Defense One

These light-weight power cells run on nuclear waste and could power next-gen drones - Defense One

Nuclear fusion gets rare tritium push for next-gen reactors in UK

Nuclear fusion gets rare tritium push for next-gen reactors in UK

Court dismisses lawsuit aiming to halt reopening of Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan

Court dismisses lawsuit aiming to halt reopening of Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan

International safety review of Finnish SMR design completed - World Nuclear News

International safety review of Finnish SMR design completed - World Nuclear News

Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant fire: 2 transformers fail

Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant fire: 2 transformers fail

Startup unveils 3D-printed nuclear reactor module to power AI data centers —touted as ‘the world’s first subcritical, solid-state, factory-built thorium nuclear reactor’ | Tom's Hardware

Startup unveils 3D-printed nuclear reactor module to power AI data centers —touted as ‘the world’s first subcritical, solid-state, factory-built thorium nuclear reactor’ | Tom's Hardware

AMPERA Produces First 3D-Printed Nuclear Reactor Module

AMPERA Produces First 3D-Printed Nuclear Reactor Module

Regional powers protest as China tests long-range missile | Semafor

Regional powers protest as China tests long-range missile | Semafor

Palisades’ Methodical March Toward Restart Reaches a Major Milestone - Holtec International

Palisades’ Methodical March Toward Restart Reaches a Major Milestone - Holtec International

Department of Energy Celebrates Fourth Criticality Ahead of July 4th Goal | Department of Energy

Department of Energy Celebrates Fourth Criticality Ahead of July 4th Goal | Department of Energy

Lithuania Aims to Be ‘Part of Nuclear Deterrence’ Against Russia: President

Lithuania Aims to Be ‘Part of Nuclear Deterrence’ Against Russia: President

Germany boosts missile shield buildout with additional Arrow-3 battery

Germany boosts missile shield buildout with additional Arrow-3 battery

Lithuania To Lift Ban on Nuclear Weapons: President - News From Antiwar.com

Lithuania To Lift Ban on Nuclear Weapons: President - News From Antiwar.com

Friday, July 3, 2026

The Broken Nuclear Umbrella | Foreign Affairs

The Broken Nuclear Umbrella | Foreign Affairs

The deadline arrives: Checking in on the Reactor Pilot Program -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

The deadline arrives: Checking in on the Reactor Pilot Program -- ANS / Nuclear Newswire

NRC Proposes Update to Radiation Protection Standards in the U.S.

NRC Proposes Update to Radiation Protection Standards in the U.S.

Us nrc proposes landmark reactor licensing overhaul for grid expansion, ETDatacenters

Us nrc proposes landmark reactor licensing overhaul for grid expansion, ETDatacenters

IAEA and Japan Cooperate on Managed Recycling of Removed Soil Arising from Decontamination Activities after the Accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

IAEA and Japan Cooperate on Managed Recycling of Removed Soil Arising from Decontamination Activities after the Accident of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

IAEA Hosts Global Conference on Nuclear Installation Safety

IAEA Hosts Global Conference on Nuclear Installation Safety

IAEA Reviews Progress of Uzbekistan’s Nuclear Power Infrastructure Development | IAEA

IAEA Reviews Progress of Uzbekistan’s Nuclear Power Infrastructure Development | IAEA

Nuclear can play its part in decarbonising shipping, says IMO chief - World Nuclear News

Nuclear can play its part in decarbonising shipping, says IMO chief - World Nuclear News

IAEA highlights Uzbekistan's nuclear infrastructure progress - World Nuclear News

IAEA highlights Uzbekistan's nuclear infrastructure progress - World Nuclear News

International safety review of Finnish SMR design completed - World Nuclear News

International safety review of Finnish SMR design completed - World Nuclear News

TRISO fuel delivered for Kaleidos reactor experiment - World Nuclear News

TRISO fuel delivered for Kaleidos reactor experiment - World Nuclear News

Palisades enters final stage of work before restart - World Nuclear News

Palisades enters final stage of work before restart - World Nuclear News

Report: Russian Drones Successfully Probed US Nuclear Bases In Europe - American Liberty News

Report: Russian Drones Successfully Probed US Nuclear Bases In Europe - American Liberty News

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Mapping America's Nuclear Potential | The Breakthrough Institute

Mapping America's Nuclear Potential | The Breakthrough Institute

Nuclear power: A renaissance in the making | McKinsey

Nuclear power: A renaissance in the making | McKinsey

26-071.pdf - https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-071.pdf

26-071.pdf No: 26-071 July 1, 2026 CONTACT: Office of Public Affairs, 301-415-8200 EO14300 Rulemaking NRC Proposes Most Comprehensive Modernization of Reactor Licensing in Decades ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today proposed a sweeping package of regulatory reforms aimed at modernizing reactor licensing, safety oversight, and siting practices for nuclear power plants. The proposed rule would update requirements across virtually every stage of a plant’s lifecycle—from initial design approvals and construction through operation, license renewal, and decommissioning—by introducing more flexible, risk-informed, and performance-based approaches tailored to both today’s technologies and the next generation of reactors.

Urenco US nuclear fuel capacity grows with new uranium enrichment cascade

Urenco US nuclear fuel capacity grows with new uranium enrichment cascade

SGE-led team targets 14 BWRX-300 SMRs in UK - World Nuclear News

SGE-led team targets 14 BWRX-300 SMRs in UK - World Nuclear News

Criticality for third US reactor ahead of 4 July deadline - World Nuclear News

Criticality for third US reactor ahead of 4 July deadline - World Nuclear News

In pictures: Final module installed at Haiyang 4 - World Nuclear News

In pictures: Final module installed at Haiyang 4 - World Nuclear News

Action needed to achieve tripling of global nuclear capacity target, says NEA - World Nuclear News

Action needed to achieve tripling of global nuclear capacity target, says NEA - World Nuclear News

Urenco US nuclear fuel capacity grows with new uranium enrichment cascade

Urenco US nuclear fuel capacity grows with new uranium enrichment cascade

The Future of Nuclear in Utah -- ANS / Webinars

The Future of Nuclear in Utah -- ANS / Webinars

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

From Paper to Real-Life Reactors: The Holistic View of the Reactor Pilot Program

From Paper to Real-Life Reactors: The Holistic View of the Reactor Pilot Program

In Congress July 4, 1776 | Neutron Bytes

In Congress July 4, 1776 | Neutron Bytes

NRC Charts a Disposal Path for Nuclear Waste Stuck at a ‘Dead End’

NRC Charts a Disposal Path for Nuclear Waste Stuck at a ‘Dead End’

The World Is Racing to Develop New Nuclear Fuels | OilPrice.com

The World Is Racing to Develop New Nuclear Fuels | OilPrice.com

International efforts to end North Korea’s nuclear weapons program have failed. Here’s what comes next

International efforts to end North Korea’s nuclear weapons program have failed. Here’s what comes next

U.S. Department of Energy Meets President Trump’s Goal, Delivers Third Advanced Reactor Criticality | Department of Energy

U.S. Department of Energy Meets President Trump’s Goal, Delivers Third Advanced Reactor Criticality | Department of Energy

Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons Strengthen US Deterrence - American Liberty News

Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons Strengthen US Deterrence - American Liberty News

SMRs for Investors: Where to Turn? | RealClearEnergy

SMRs for Investors: Where to Turn? | RealClearEnergy

Nuclear Workforce: Key Priority | RealClearEnergy

Nuclear Workforce: Key Priority | RealClearEnergy

Energy minister plans 'nuclear renaissance' with up to 10 reactors built by 2040 | CBC News

Energy minister plans 'nuclear renaissance' with up to 10 reactors built by 2040 | CBC News

India launches world's first nuclear hydrogen production facility

India launches world's first nuclear hydrogen production facility

German startups compete in global race for nuclear fusion

German startups compete in global race for nuclear fusion

DOE backs AP1000 reactor build-out - Nuclear Engineering International

DOE backs AP1000 reactor build-out - Nuclear Engineering International

Biochar-based materials could help recover uranium for a more sustainable nuclear energy future | EurekAlert!

Biochar-based materials could help recover uranium for a more sustainable nuclear energy future | EurekAlert!

Sogin launches dry storage project - Nuclear Engineering International

Sogin launches dry storage project - Nuclear Engineering International

NRC Charts a Disposal Path for Nuclear Waste Stuck at a ‘Dead End’

NRC Charts a Disposal Path for Nuclear Waste Stuck at a ‘Dead End’

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

DANIEL ELLSBERG'S NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE - Seymour Hersh

DANIEL ELLSBERG'S NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE - Seymour Hersh

Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons Strengthen US Deterrence - American Liberty News

Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons Strengthen US Deterrence - American Liberty News

Russia planning 'high-capacity' nuclear fuel reprocessing plant - World Nuclear News

Russia planning 'high-capacity' nuclear fuel reprocessing plant - World Nuclear News

Sogin begins re-encapsulation of uranium-thorium fuel - World Nuclear News

Sogin begins re-encapsulation of uranium-thorium fuel - World Nuclear News

US uranium production up again - World Nuclear News

US uranium production up again - World Nuclear News

Oil and mining giants among firms exploring nuclear's industrial use potential - World Nuclear News

Oil and mining giants among firms exploring nuclear's industrial use potential - World Nuclear News

Blykalla teams up with Hitachi for SMR deployment - World Nuclear News

Blykalla teams up with Hitachi for SMR deployment - World Nuclear News

Former managers call for restart of German nuclear power plants - World Nuclear News

Former managers call for restart of German nuclear power plants - World Nuclear News