Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire - Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry. Nuclear Activities
Friday, October 2, 2026
Atomic Prime - From Heatmap
"Another hyperscaler invests in large existing nuclear
Almost exactly two years ago, nuclear energy had its Big Tech glow-up. Amazon took an equity stake in X-energy, a developer of helium-cooled small modular reactors. Google invested in Kairos Power, another fourth-generation SMR designer that uses molten salt as a coolant. Microsoft, meanwhile, agreed to pay $16 billion to restart the functioning reactor at Constellation Energy’s Crane Clean Energy Center, formerly known as Three Mile Island. With electricity demand now surging, however, hyperscalers are increasingly following the more conservative Microsoft playbook. Google, as I previously told you, backed plans to bring Iowa’s lone nuclear plant, NextEra Energy’s Duane Arnold station, online again. Facebook-owner Meta — in addition to investments in two next-generation reactor companies, Oklo and TerraPower — inked a deal to buy nuclear electricity from two of utility Vistra’s plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania for the next 20 years."
"Now Amazon is securing itself a chunk of the nation’s existing nuclear fleet. This week, the retail and web-hosting giant signed its own 20-year deal to buy power from Constellation’s Calvert Cliffs Clean Energy Center in Maryland, committing more than $3 billion in investments to upgrade the two-reactor facility that will allow the operators to squeeze out another 190 megawatts of capacity on top of the existing 1.8 gigawatts. “This agreement demonstrates how private investment can strengthen critical energy infrastructure,” Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez said in a statement. “Amazon’s commitment supports the long-term operation of Calvert Cliffs for generations to come.”
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Files to Support CGNP's 29 September 2026 Public Comments
Files to Support CGNP's 29 September 2026 Public Comments - micheletkearney@gmail.com - Gmail
Files to Support CGNP's 29 September 2026 Public Comments
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government@cgnp.org
Attachments2:45 AM (12 hours ago)
Hello, County of San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and Staff:
I've attached three files to support Californians for Green Nuclear Power's (CGNP's) Comments during the public comment period for the 29 September 2026 Public Meeting.
Those three files include the text from a 17 September 2026 San Francisco Chronicle Travel section article touting the Diablo Canyon lands as a tourist destination. The other two items were distributed to the public at the Diablo Canyon Lands conservation meeting.
CGNP attended the Diablo Canyon Lands conservation meeting on 23 September 2026 at the downtown SLO public library. CGNP has concerns that public access for the Diablo Canyon Lands could create land use conflicts and serve as a barrier to extended Diablo Canyon operations beyond 2030. CGNP continues to learn about actions taken to support the doctrine-based opposition of California Senator John Laird and California Assembly Member Dawn Addis.
As the earliest advocate for Diablo Canyon extended operations, independent nonprofit CGNP appreciates the longstanding support of the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors for extended Diablo Canyon operations at least to 2045. Per a 2013 Cal Poly SLO study, Diablo Canyon generates at least a billion dollars in direct and indirect economic activity each year.
The massive Iberian Peninsula blackout on 28 April 2025 illustrated the danger of insufficient synchronous grid inertia from Spanish nuclear power plants - and excess low-quality power from solar and wind generation. Unfortunately, at least eleven people who were depending on reliable electric power died as a consequence of the blackout. The economic harms from lost productivity and damaged production equipment are measured in the equivalent of billions of U.S. dollars.
Diablo Canyon's safe, reliable, abundant, and zero-emission power is cost-effective. In a CPUC filing CGNP made on 28 September 2026, we showed the net cost of Diablo Canyon's power during the initial record period from September, 2023 to December, 2025 was a mere 1,7 cents per kilowatt-hour, a cost comparable to power from a large hydroelectric dam. Diablo Canyon typically annually produces more power than five Hoover Dams.
The County's best bet for ratepayers and the environment is to keep Diablo Canyon running well beyond 2045.
Sincerely,
Gene Nelson, Ph.D. CGNP Senior Legal Researcher and President
Californians for Green Nuclear Power, Inc. (CGNP)
1375 East Grand Ave Ste 103 #523
Arroyo Grande, CA 93420-2421
(805) 363 - 4697 cell
Government@CGNP.org email
https://CGNP.org/About Website - ActBlue donation link
https://greennuke.substack.com CGNP GreenNUKE Substack
** California Needs DCPP's 24/7 Reliable Power. **
Monday, September 28, 2026
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