Vol. 19, No. 05 
NRC kicks off reorganization sought by White House
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Advanced Nuclear & SMRs
DOE puts in place NEPA exclusion for advanced reactors
The Department of Energy (DOE) has established a categorical exclusion from certain National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures for approving and constructing advanced reactors. The exclusion is a “category of actions that the agency has determined, as established in its agency NEPA procedures, normally does not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and […]
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Advanced Nuclear & SMRs
NextEra evaluates strategy to add new nuclear generation
NextEra Energy is considering adding up to 6 gigawatts or 6,000 megawatts of new nuclear generation in part to help meet artificial intelligence (AI) data center demands. In a Jan. 27 earnings call, the Juno Beach, Fla.-based energy utility said small modular reactors (SMRs) could be built at its existing nuclear power plants or at […]
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Interim Storage & Waste Disposal
Deep Isolation breaks ground on full-scale demo for its deep borehole technology
Deep Isolation launched a multi-year full-scale demonstration program this week for its nuclear waste disposal technology. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Jan. 28 at the Deep Borehole Demonstration, located at the Haliburton Drilling Technology Facility near Cameron, Texas. Deep Isolation said stakeholders across the nuclear industry, Texas state officials and Department of Energy (DOE) representatives […]
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Budget & Policy
DOE rewrites nuclear safety rules under Trump White House, NPR reports
The Department of Energy (DOE) has overhauled and hollowed out much of its nuclear safety regulations, according to a recent National Public Radio report. According to the Jan. 28 NPR article, over the course of fall and winter, DOE has slashed hundreds of pages of requirements for security at the reactors, loosened protections for groundwater […]
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Uranium Enrichment & Fuel Cycle
Jarrell to lead DOE NE nuclear fuel cycle; Murray heads to EM
The Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy this week tapped longtime nuclear complex hand Josh Jarrell to become deputy assistant secretary for nuclear fuel cycle. Separately two industry sources have told Exchange Monitor in the past week that Office of Nuclear Energy executive, Paul Murray, is moving over to DOE’s Office of Environmental Management. […]
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Contracts & Procurement
TVA earnings rise in its first quarter of fiscal 2026
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) earnings increased in the first quarter of fiscal 2026 which the Knoxville-based federal utility attributed to higher sales thanks largely to weather impacts and growing demand from data processing and related sectors.. Net earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2026 ended Dec. 31 were $266 million, up from $125 million, […]
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International
Darlington touts completion of refurbishment project
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) said this week it has recompleted refurbishment of Unit 4 at Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario, Canada. Darlington staff are currently doing final testing in preparation of returning Unit 4 to operation, OPG said Monday. The major refurbishment project that cost $12.8 billion (US$ 9.3 billion) is on track to […]
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Advanced Nuclear & SMRs
San Antonio Waterkeeper group allowed to intervene in Texas SMR case
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) has granted a Texas environmental group’s petition to intervene in the case surrounding Dow and X-Energy’s construction permit application for Seadrift, Texas. The ASLB ruling on the intervention petition, which was issued Jan. 22, found that San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper (Waterkeeper) established grounds to […]
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International
Saskatchewan to consider large reactor options
The Government of Saskatchewan and Regina, Canada-based utility SaskPower are planning to evaluate large nuclear reactors for potential deployment in the Saskatchewan province. The technology selection process for large nuclear reactors will be in conjunction with SaskPower’s plans to select small modular reactors (SMR) projects, according to its Jan. 28 press release. In October 2025, […]
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Reactor Licensing & Regulation
Round Up: NRC offers hearing for Grand Gulf site renewal; Swedish company signs deal; Allied Power appoints Patel for engineering unit; NRC hires Carroll as chief financial officer
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced Monday an opportunity for the public to request a hearing on a request from an Entergy subsidiary company to renew its early site permit for the Grand Gulf site in Mississippi. System Energy Resources was issued the early site permit in 2007 and it is set to expire on April […]