Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

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

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Ritter's Rant 030: Our Journey - Real Scott Ritter

Ritter's Rant 030: Our Journey - Real Scott Ritter

Scientists discover changes to the polar vortex that are plunging parts of US into deep freeze | Live Science

Scientists discover changes to the polar vortex that are plunging parts of US into deep freeze | Live Science

MISO's Existing Nuclear, Natural Gas, and Coal Plants are Way Cheaper than New Wind and Solar

MISO's Existing Nuclear, Natural Gas, and Coal Plants are Way Cheaper than New Wind and Solar

Startup Plans NuScale SMRs in a Rural Idaho Town | Neutron Bytes

Startup Plans NuScale SMRs in a Rural Idaho Town | Neutron Bytes

Westinghouse Rolls the Dice With Plan to Build 10 AP1000s | Neutron Bytes

Westinghouse Rolls the Dice With Plan to Build 10 AP1000s | Neutron Bytes

NuScale Power Corporation (SMR) Has Doubled This Year. Do Analysts Expect The Rally To Continue?

NuScale Power Corporation (SMR) Has Doubled This Year. Do Analysts Expect The Rally To Continue?

Nuclear Energy Now - 7/18/25 - The National Interest

Nuclear Energy Now - 7/18/25 - The National Interest

The Strategic Merger of HCM II and Terrestrial Energy: A High-Potential Play in the Nuclear Innovation Sector

The Strategic Merger of HCM II and Terrestrial Energy: A High-Potential Play in the Nuclear Innovation Sector

Sacramento Report: Costs Are Climbing for Nuclear Waste Disposal at San Onofre | Voice of San Diego

Sacramento Report: Costs Are Climbing for Nuclear Waste Disposal at San Onofre | Voice of San Diego

Secretary-General Announces Members of Independent Scientific Panel on Effects of Nuclear War | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

Secretary-General Announces Members of Independent Scientific Panel on Effects of Nuclear War | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

Friday, July 18, 2025

Great Britain and France Strengthen Nuclear Cooperation – War on the Rocks

Great Britain and France Strengthen Nuclear Cooperation – War on the Rocks

Workers at Tennessee lab make advanced fuel for newer nuclear reactors | AP News

Workers at Tennessee lab make advanced fuel for newer nuclear reactors | AP News

US Nuclear Industry Could Build Reactors Quicker at These Six Sites - Bloomberg

US Nuclear Industry Could Build Reactors Quicker at These Six Sites - Bloomberg

Idaho National Laboratory collaborates with Microsoft to streamline nuclear licensing - Idaho National Laboratory

Idaho National Laboratory collaborates with Microsoft to streamline nuclear licensing - Idaho National Laboratory

Week in Review | The Regulatory Review

Week in Review | The Regulatory Review

Buried Reactors, Silent Power: Deep Fission’s Radical Nuclear Plan Could Revolutionize How the World Feeds Its Data Machines - Sustainability Times

Buried Reactors, Silent Power: Deep Fission’s Radical Nuclear Plan Could Revolutionize How the World Feeds Its Data Machines - Sustainability Times

Virginia takes steps to bring advanced nuclear reactor to Wise County • Virginia Mercury

Virginia takes steps to bring advanced nuclear reactor to Wise County • Virginia Mercury

US seeks pilot production lines for advanced reactor fuel - World Nuclear News

US seeks pilot production lines for advanced reactor fuel - World Nuclear News

Round Up: Oklo completes NRC readiness assessment; Westinghouse, Google Cloud to collaborate to use AI for advanced nuclear projects; INL partners up with Microsoft to use AI to streamline nuclear licensing - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

Round Up: Oklo completes NRC readiness assessment; Westinghouse, Google Cloud to collaborate to use AI for advanced nuclear projects; INL partners up with Microsoft to use AI to streamline nuclear licensing - ExchangeMonitor | Page 1

Oklo Advances Licensing with Completion of NRC Readiness Assessment

Oklo Advances Licensing with Completion of NRC Readiness Assessment

The first US atomic rush was a bust. Will Trump's big nuclear-for-AI plans fare any better? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

The first US atomic rush was a bust. Will Trump's big nuclear-for-AI plans fare any better? - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

NRC More than Doubles Duration of Reactor Design Certifications – Up & Atom

NRC More than Doubles Duration of Reactor Design Certifications – Up & Atom

Is China’s Military Ready for War? | Foreign Affairs

Is China’s Military Ready for War? | Foreign Affairs

Twenty more years of Diablo won't 'protect and enhance' our coast | Letters | San Luis Obispo | New Times San Luis Obispo

Twenty more years of Diablo won't 'protect and enhance' our coast | Letters | San Luis Obispo | New Times San Luis Obispo

Thursday, July 17, 2025

US Nuclear Industry Could Build Reactors Quicker at These Six Sites - Bloomberg

US Nuclear Industry Could Build Reactors Quicker at These Six Sites - Bloomberg

Riding the hydrogen bubble - Nuclear Engineering International

Riding the hydrogen bubble - Nuclear Engineering International

Westinghouse plans to build 10 large nuclear reactors in U.S., interim CEO tells Trump

Westinghouse plans to build 10 large nuclear reactors in U.S., interim CEO tells Trump

Microsoft, US national lab tap AI to speed up nuclear power permitting process

Microsoft, US national lab tap AI to speed up nuclear power permitting process

Wendelstein 7-X Sets New Record For The Nuclear Fusion Triple Product | Hackaday

Wendelstein 7-X Sets New Record For The Nuclear Fusion Triple Product | Hackaday

Kairos Power Installs Reactor Vessel for Oak Ridge Engineering Test Unit - Kairos Power

Kairos Power Installs Reactor Vessel for Oak Ridge Engineering Test Unit - Kairos Power

8-Org_Letter_to_DOE_Secretary_Wright_070825.pdf - guest post

8-Org_Letter_to_DOE_Secretary_Wright_070825.pdf -1- July 8, 2025 The Honorable Christopher A. Wright Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy 1000 Independence Ave. SW Washington DC 20585 Dear Secretary Wright, Our organizations welcome the momentum you have created around new nuclear development in the U.S. There are many things the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) can do to advance the efficient use of nuclear energy and carry out its energy dominance and national security missions. We are writing to request a meeting with you to discuss how we can best support the Administration’s efforts in one critical area—the restoration of a highly functioning program to meet DOE’s legal responsibility to manage and dispose of the nation’s commercial and legacy defense spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW).1 Doing so would result in an immense savings to the U.S. taxpayers. The remaining federal financial liabilities for inaction are estimated today between $37.6 billion and $44.5 billion for commercial SNF,2 while the liability for the Department’s inability to remove its own legacy HLW and SNF from DOE sites was estimated in FY 2023 at $23 billion3 and growing. Moreover, continued inaction on SNF and HLW will impair the ability of the country to carry out vital cleanup and national security missions and may inhibit new nuclear development. It has been forty-two years since Congress passed the Nuclear Waste Policy Act establishing a national program for the management and disposal of SNF and HLW, and much has been learned about what constitutes an effective SNF/HLW program. Recent successes in Finland, Canada, Switzerland, and Sweden—nations actively pursuing SNF/HLW solutions with technologies first advanced in the U.S.—highlight the tremendous opportunity that exists for refreshing our own program. 1 SNF and HLW are currently stored at over 100 sites in 39 states across the country. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 2024 Spent Nuclear Fuel and Reprocessing Waste Inventory Report. [Report] 2 U.S. Department of Energy. (2024, November 19) “The Department of Energy Nuclear Waste Fund’s Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Statement Audit” [Report] 3 U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, (2024, February 28). “Accounting for Environmental Liabilities” [PowerPoint slides] -2- As you ably noted during your confirmation hearing, the development of any large infrastructure project, including those involving nuclear technologies, requires buy-in at the state and local levels. And, as you also pointed out, the SNF/HLW issue should not be as controversial as it has become. The volume of the material needing management is relatively small, and the technology for proper management is well understood and developed. While the details need further consideration, we are encouraged that bipartisan Congressional legislation is being discussed that focuses attention on principles and issues important to putting this multi-generational program on a path to success. These include development of: • A governance and funding structure that maximizes opportunities for sustained performance over the decades required for completion of this program, including: o An interim step to re-establish an office within the Department, reporting directly to the Secretary of Energy and solely responsible for the back-end of the fuel cycle; o The formation of a new, single-purpose organization—independent of DOE—to manage the SNF and HLW program long-term; and o Sustainable, annual access to the Nuclear Waste Fund balance and accumulating interest to effectively implement the program. • An integrated program that includes storage, transportation, examination of the role for reprocessing, and geologic disposal elements; and • A collaborative process that brings about necessary alignment of federal, state, local, and Tribal governments on the siting of necessary facilities. The good news is that some funding already exists to pay for a successful SNF/HLW program. The Nuclear Waste Fund—with a balance of more than $49.5 billion4 and growing— was established by the NWPA as a fee on nuclear electricity generation paid, directly or indirectly, by consumers of that electricity. The time has come to make those people and companies whole. It is time to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. It is time to be accountable to the communities that have long supported our national security, energy, and government-sponsored research and development activities. In doing so, it may bolster interest in some of these same communities to host new nuclear and nuclear waste projects. The hurdles that have thus far prevented progress can be overcome, leading to greater confidence in the nation’s ability to manage current and future waste and facilitating the deployment of new, advanced nuclear technologies. Thank you for your leadership, and we look forward to meeting with you to discuss how we can work together to advance solutions. To coordinate a meeting with our organizations,5 please contact Katrina McMurrian, the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition’s Executive Director, at katrina@theNWSC.org or 615.905.1375. 4 U.S. Department of Energy. (2024, November 19) “The Department of Energy Nuclear Waste Fund’s Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Statement Audit” [Report] -3- Sincerely, Craig Piercy Executive Director/CEO American Nuclear Society (ANS) Wayne Norton Chair, Decommissioning Plant Coalition (DPC) Steering Committee, and President & CEO, Yankee Atomic Electric Company Brent Gerry Chair, Energy Communities Alliance Executive Board, and Mayor/CEO, West Richland, WA Tricia Pridemore President, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and Commissioner, Georgia Public Service Commission Maria G. Korsnick President & Chief Executive Officer Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) Katherine L. Peretick Chair, Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition (NWSC), and Commissioner, Michigan Public Service Commission Charles Fairhurst, Ph.D. Science Panel Member Sustainable Fuel Cycle Task Force Science Panel Todd Abrajano President & CEO United States Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC) cc: Mr. Theodore “Ted” J. Garrish, Senior Advisor to the Secretary Dr. Michael Goff, Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy Mr. Paul Murray, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Spent Fuel and High-Level Waste Disposition, Office of Nuclear Energy 5 For more information: • American Nuclear Society (ANS): https://www.ans.org/ • Energy Communities Alliance (ECA): https://www.energyca.org/ • National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC): https://www.naruc.org/ • Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI): https://nei.org/ • Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition (NWSC): https://thenwsc.org/ • Sustainable Fuel Cycle Task Force Science Panel: https://sustainablefuelcyclesciencepanel.org/ • U.S. Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC): https://www.usnic.org/

Westinghouse to Accelerate US Nuclear Reactor Construction and Enhance Operations with Google Cloud AI

Westinghouse to Accelerate US Nuclear Reactor Construction and Enhance Operations with Google Cloud AI

Accelerating Commercialization Through… | The Breakthrough Institute

Accelerating Commercialization Through… | The Breakthrough Institute

Clinch River application accepted for review - World Nuclear News

Clinch River application accepted for review - World Nuclear News

Why Is the Media Normalizing Nuclear War and Its Effects on US Populations? | naked capitalism

Why Is the Media Normalizing Nuclear War and Its Effects on US Populations? | naked capitalism

The Nuclear Club Might Soon Double - The Atlantic

The Nuclear Club Might Soon Double - The Atlantic

What It Takes to Launch a Nuclear Weapon - The Atlantic

What It Takes to Launch a Nuclear Weapon - The Atlantic

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

(538) IRAN's NUKE PROGRAM is INTACT /MIT Prof Ted Postol & Lt Col Daniel Davis - YouTube

(538) IRAN's NUKE PROGRAM is INTACT /MIT Prof Ted Postol & Lt Col Daniel Davis - YouTube

(25) LinkedIn Cities on the Rise 2025: The 25 fastest-growing U.S. metros for jobs and new talent | LinkedIn

(25) LinkedIn Cities on the Rise 2025: The 25 fastest-growing U.S. metros for jobs and new talent | LinkedIn

GEV stock: GE Vernova could be on the cusp of building the first SMR in the U.S.​ | Investorsobserver

GEV stock: GE Vernova could be on the cusp of building the first SMR in the U.S.​ | Investorsobserver

What Happens When Big Tech Goes Nuclear? | TIME

What Happens When Big Tech Goes Nuclear? | TIME

NRC reviews TVA SMR construction permit - Nuclear Engineering International

NRC reviews TVA SMR construction permit - Nuclear Engineering International

Drawing the Line | The Breakthrough Institute

Drawing the Line | The Breakthrough Institute

President’s Executive Orders on Nuclear Energy—Expanded Analysis & Opportunities for the Private Sector | Kilpatrick - JDSupra

President’s Executive Orders on Nuclear Energy—Expanded Analysis & Opportunities for the Private Sector | Kilpatrick - JDSupra

US expedites NRC reform - Nuclear Engineering International

US expedites NRC reform - Nuclear Engineering International

Westinghouse plans to build 10 large nuclear reactors in U.S., interim CEO tells Trump

Westinghouse plans to build 10 large nuclear reactors in U.S., interim CEO tells Trump

Many top data center locations could be at risk of climate change | TechRadar

Many top data center locations could be at risk of climate change | TechRadar

US nuclear plant operators sued in class action over worker pay | Reuters

US nuclear plant operators sued in class action over worker pay | Reuters

Advanced Reactor Company Oklo Chooses Kiewit As Lead Constructor For First Aurora Project

Advanced Reactor Company Oklo Chooses Kiewit As Lead Constructor For First Aurora Project

Keeping the Lights On with Nuclear Waste | UNLV

Keeping the Lights On with Nuclear Waste | UNLV

French expert group gives backing for proposed deep nuclear waste repository plans | S&P Global

French expert group gives backing for proposed deep nuclear waste repository plans | S&P Global

America’s building bottleneck threatens the energy transition | Latitude Media

America’s building bottleneck threatens the energy transition | Latitude Media

Trump’s Unsung Economic Booster: Deregulation - WSJ

Trump’s Unsung Economic Booster: Deregulation - WSJ

Constellation to Pursue New York Nuclear Project, CEO Says

Constellation to Pursue New York Nuclear Project, CEO Says

Mothballed nuclear plant on brink of revival - E&E News by POLITICO

Mothballed nuclear plant on brink of revival - E&E News by POLITICO

Westinghouse, Google AI collaboration aims to accelerate nuclear deployments

Westinghouse, Google AI collaboration aims to accelerate nuclear deployments

Watch Nuclear Waste Costing Taxpayers Billions, Deep Isolation CEO - Bloomberg

Watch Nuclear Waste Costing Taxpayers Billions, Deep Isolation CEO - Bloomberg

Westinghouse to Accelerate US Nuclear Reactor Construction and Enhance Operations with Google Cloud AI

Westinghouse to Accelerate US Nuclear Reactor Construction and Enhance Operations with Google Cloud AI

Constellation to Pursue New York Nuclear Project, CEO Says

Constellation to Pursue New York Nuclear Project, CEO Says

Despite Bipartisan Backing, Nuclear’s Future Is Uncertain Under Trump | Council on Foreign Relations

Despite Bipartisan Backing, Nuclear’s Future Is Uncertain Under Trump | Council on Foreign Relations

Westinghouse plans to build 10 large nuclear reactors in U.S., interim CEO tells Trump

Westinghouse plans to build 10 large nuclear reactors in U.S., interim CEO tells Trump

The enduring dilemma of managing American high-level nuclear waste | Brookings

The enduring dilemma of managing American high-level nuclear waste | Brookings

Donald Trump is warned he is pushing Putin towards nuclear war with his decision to arm Ukraine and hit Russia with more sanctions | Daily Mail Online

Donald Trump is warned he is pushing Putin towards nuclear war with his decision to arm Ukraine and hit Russia with more sanctions | Daily Mail Online

What would happen if nuke landed on Washington DC and how many would die - The Mirror US

What would happen if nuke landed on Washington DC and how many would die - The Mirror US

Monday, July 14, 2025

SMRs 'hold immense promise' for Africa - World Nuclear News

SMRs 'hold immense promise' for Africa - World Nuclear News

Can Nuclear Energy Power Africa?

Can Nuclear Energy Power Africa?

Clinch River site set for first-ever US SMR as NRC begins review

Clinch River site set for first-ever US SMR as NRC begins review

The U.S. Is Testing Tiny Nuclear Reactors That Can Go Practically Anywhere

The U.S. Is Testing Tiny Nuclear Reactors That Can Go Practically Anywhere

The U.S. Is Testing Tiny Nuclear Reactors That Can Go Practically Anywhere

The U.S. Is Testing Tiny Nuclear Reactors That Can Go Practically Anywhere

Some Fundamentals of Russian National Security Policy - CounterPunch.org

Some Fundamentals of Russian National Security Policy - CounterPunch.org

Chinese regulator must keep up with nuclear expansion, says IAEA - World Nuclear News

Chinese regulator must keep up with nuclear expansion, says IAEA - World Nuclear News

Nuclear could replace wind power at Lava Ridge site in Idaho | Utility Dive

Nuclear could replace wind power at Lava Ridge site in Idaho | Utility Dive

What’s next for advanced nuclear technology? | Utility Dive

What’s next for advanced nuclear technology? | Utility Dive

Isabelle Boemeke Has a Hot Take on the Future of Nuclear Energy

Isabelle Boemeke Has a Hot Take on the Future of Nuclear Energy

Why the US must protect the independence of its nuclear regulator - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Why the US must protect the independence of its nuclear regulator - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

The enduring dilemma of managing American high-level nuclear waste | Brookings

The enduring dilemma of managing American high-level nuclear waste | Brookings

What’s Left of the LPO After the One Big Beautiful Bill? - Heatmap News

What’s Left of the LPO After the One Big Beautiful Bill? - Heatmap News

Trump admin adds DOGE staffer to Nuclear Commission

Trump admin adds DOGE staffer to Nuclear Commission

The dubious assumptions of the Trump administration’s big reliability study | Latitude Media

The dubious assumptions of the Trump administration’s big reliability study | Latitude Media

Energoatom signs Westinghouse and Holtec agreements - World Nuclear News

Energoatom signs Westinghouse and Holtec agreements - World Nuclear News

Russia rejects US media report it backed ‘zero enrichment’ Iran deal

Russia rejects US media report it backed ‘zero enrichment’ Iran deal

Friday, July 11, 2025

Explainer | Why do many scientists oppose Fukushima radioactive waste discharge? | South China Morning Post

Explainer | Why do many scientists oppose Fukushima radioactive waste discharge? | South China Morning Post

Chinese tests of seawater near Fukushima nuclear plant show no impact on marine life | South China Morning Post

Chinese tests of seawater near Fukushima nuclear plant show no impact on marine life | South China Morning Post

China will have over 100 nuclear reactors. A PLA study warns some could be hit in wartime | South China Morning Post

China will have over 100 nuclear reactors. A PLA study warns some could be hit in wartime | South China Morning Post

Memo to Iran: The Only Thing That Will Stop Bibi Is A Nuclear Bomb, by Mike Whitney - The Unz Review

Memo to Iran: The Only Thing That Will Stop Bibi Is A Nuclear Bomb, by Mike Whitney - The Unz Review

Misaligned interconnection, transmission planning could hurt competitive markets: FERC’s Chang | Utility Dive

Misaligned interconnection, transmission planning could hurt competitive markets: FERC’s Chang | Utility Dive

Holtec ready for Palisades to enter operational mode - World Nuclear News

Holtec ready for Palisades to enter operational mode - World Nuclear News

Clinch River application accepted for review - World Nuclear News

Clinch River application accepted for review - World Nuclear News

Final stage of IMSR graphite irradiation testing starts - World Nuclear News

Final stage of IMSR graphite irradiation testing starts - World Nuclear News

Lithuania To Study Deployment Of Newcleo Small Modular Reactors

Lithuania To Study Deployment Of Newcleo Small Modular Reactors

U.S. expects to OK Tennessee Valley Authority small nuclear reactor in 2026 (NLR:NYSEARCA) | Seeking Alpha

U.S. expects to OK Tennessee Valley Authority small nuclear reactor in 2026 (NLR:NYSEARCA) | Seeking Alpha

How OBBB will impact the power grid | Latitude Media

How OBBB will impact the power grid | Latitude Media

Braun wants Indiana to build nuclear reactors and become energy leader

Braun wants Indiana to build nuclear reactors and become energy leader

The dubious assumptions of the Trump administration’s big reliability study | Latitude Media

The dubious assumptions of the Trump administration’s big reliability study | Latitude Media

Western states forge alliance with nation’s nuclear lab on advanced energy development - Idaho National Laboratory

Western states forge alliance with nation’s nuclear lab on advanced energy development - Idaho National Laboratory

Plans for East Yorkshire floating power plant and nuclear reactor

Plans for East Yorkshire floating power plant and nuclear reactor

Battle brews over Hochul push to build upstate nuclear plant

Battle brews over Hochul push to build upstate nuclear plant

A Microreactor Partnership - ASME

A Microreactor Partnership - ASME