Publications: Nuclear Energy & Radwaste Monitor

The Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) and Purdue University’s Applied Research Institute have agreed to work together on new technologies aimed at lowering construction costs. The collaboration will take place under NRIC’s Advanced Construction Technology Initiative, a program designed to demonstrate advanced reactor construction technologies and techniques, according to DOE’s Nov. 5 […]

Hopefully, readers won’t notice any difference but Exchange Monitor Publications was affected by that big Microsoft Outlook outage on Thursday. The outage, sandwiched between Veterans Day on Wednesday and Friday the 13th, made for an interesting week. Our information technology folks informed us early Friday that our email traffic was resuming. That said, if you […]

Legislation to effectively remove Yucca Mountain in Nevada as the nation’s exclusive disposal site for high-level waste might have to wait until the new Congress takes office in January,, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) said this week. The Tennessee lawmaker who has chaired the House Appropriations Energy and Water subcommittee during the current Congress, told the […]

Santa Clara, Calif-based nuclear company Oklo signed a nuclear fuel deal with Centrus Energy and began the research and demonstration phase of its isotope test reactor this week. Centrus HALEU Fuel Supply Deal On Thursday, Oklo signed multiple multi-year contracts with Centrus for high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). According to the press release, the deals formalize […]

The Canadian government proposes to spend C$518.5 million (US $367 million) over the next five years to grow its nuclear power output as a part of its Nuclear Energy Strategy. On Nov. 5, Canada released its proposed 2026 federal budget that covers its 2026-2027 fiscal year and outlines several multi-year funding projections and trends. Canada’s […]

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors meeting scheduled for Tuesday could be the panel’s last meeting with a voting quorum for a while as two members’ face a ticking clock. TVA members Arthur Graham and Bobby Klein’s terms officially expired on May 18, but still serve on the board until the new congressional […]

After completing X-energy’s environmental review in late October, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the advanced reactor company a construction permit for its four small modular reactor (SMR) project in Texas. This licensing action marks the first time in over 50 years a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor has won a construction permit, according to X-energy’s Monday press […]

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) urged industry members at a Tuesday event to engage with Congress following the midterm elections to continue domestic nuclear power’s current momentum. Fleischmann told the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council’s New Nuclear Capital event in New York City that nuclear power has gained bipartisan support in Congress over time and can continue […]

Westinghouse has hired Dayan Abeyaratne to become the company’s chief commercial officer, succeeding Jacques Besnainou. Besnainou will move to an executive advisor role in a corresponding move. In Abeyaratne’s new position of chief commercial officer, he will lead Westinghouse’s “global new plant dealmaking and strategic external affairs,” according to the company’s Monday press release. Abeyaratne […]

New developments in the Department of Energy’s $17.5 billion nuclear supply chain loans could be announced over the next few months, DOE’s Julie Kozeracki said at a Tuesday industry event. Kozeracki, acting chief investment officer at DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, addressed the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council’s New Nuclear Capital gathering in New York […]

The first North American-based small modular reactor (SMR) could take longer and cost more than earlier projected, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) reported this week. The Canadian company reported in its third quarter earnings results that Unit 1 of the Darlington New Nuclear Project is no longer expected to be in commercial operation by October 2030, […]

The House of Representatives passed all six nuclear energy-related bills this week that address varying facets of the nuclear fuel cycle in an effort to streamline licensing and construct more nuclear capacity. On the first day back following the midterm election, six nuclear energy bills hit the House floor after advancing out of the House […]

Amentum and Japan-based Kyoto Fusioneering have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to pursue commercial fusion production across Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to Amentum’s Tuesday press release, the MOU will create a framework for international coordination and have the two companies explore opportunities across major public and private fusion programs. […]

As the Democrats flip both the House and Senate in the midterm elections, the leadership of several committees will change drastically.  As of Thursday evening, the Associated Press and other national media outlets have projected the Democrats to win more than 250 seats in the House and hold at least 54 seats. The new session […]

Rockville, Md.-based small modular reactor developer X-energy has contracted Fluor to provide design and engineering services for its proposed SMR project in Richland, Wash. at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site. Under the agreement, Fluor will work closely with X-energy to provide design development, supply chain and other project related services for the SMR project, […]

Earnings rose at Fluor, Irving, Texas, in the third quarter, which the engineering and construction company with extensive government contracts, attributed to strong markets for energy and infrastructure. Net earnings for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 were $158 million or $1.16 a share up from a loss of $697 million or a loss of […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has finalized a rule Oct. 30 that would change the agency’s contested hearings process for its licensing applications and create three hearing paths. The three hearing tracks are: standard, focused and expedited. The standard proceeding will be for 18-month reviews, focused will be for 12-month reviews and expedited for “faster reviews,” […]

Earnings dropped at AtkinsRéalis Group Montreal, Canada in the third quarter, which the engineering company attributed to higher income tax expense and acquisition-related costs, according to the company’s Thursday earnings report. For the net earnings, AtkinsRéalis reported (CAN) $133.3 million (US $95 million), or (CAN) $0.83 a share, for the third quarter that ended in […]

The same momentum that saw Democrats take control of the House and Senate, helped the party win most governorships in play during Tuesday’s election.  As of Friday morning, the Associated Press projects that the Democratic Party will gain five states on the gubernatorial level. While the election results are unofficial, Democrats are expected to have […]

The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) is on a path to complete its major decommissioning work by the end of 2028 and could reach final disposal in the near future, according to a recent report. Rep. Mike Levin’s (D-Calif.) office released the 2026 SONGS report late October, touting the progress the shuttered plant has […]

Bethesda, Md. uranium broker Centrus Energy has manufactured its first centrifuge and is shipping it to its uranium enrichment facility in Piketon, Ohio, the company said Oct. 29. The centrifuge was made at Centrus’ Oak Ridge, Tenn. facility. This centrifuge was completed as a part of the company’s multibillion dollar expansion of its uranium enrichment […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently issued a final safety evaluation report for advanced reactor developer X-energy’s first planned small modular reactor in Seadrift, Texas, completing its environmental review. According to X-energy’s Oct. 30 press release, NRC staff reviewed the company’s Xe-100 plant’s principal design criteria, safety analyses and other safety aspects and recommended that the […]

The United States Navy has selected its Naval Weapons Stations in Crane, Ind. to support large-scale advanced nuclear power generation at the naval installation. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao announced on Oct. 28 at the 5th annual Northeast Indiana Defense Summit, hosted by Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), that the Navy is seeking proposals […]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As renewed interest in nuclear energy continues to materialize in the United States, nuclear companies are seeking multiple suppliers to help bring their plans to fruition, company representatives said here on Oct. 29. Industry representatives from Orano USA, Centrus Energy and Oklo told audience members at an industry conference their respective companies […]

Bethesda, Md.-based uranium broker Centrus Energy reported mixed results in its earnings for the third quarter, seeing a gain in its quarterly income, but a decrease in net revenue. Net income for the third quarter ended Sept. 30 was $31.6 million, or about $1.53 a share, up from $3.9 million, or $0.21 a share, in […]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – As the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) undergoes something of an identity shift, it is embracing artificial intelligence (AI) data centers on remediated land at federal nuclear sites. Robert Seifert, DOE’s EM director of infrastructure disposition and regulatory policy, told the audience at the Energy Technology and Environmental Business […]

The Department of Energy approved Radiant Nuclear’s documented safety analysis Thursday, moving it one step closer to reaching criticality at DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL), the company said. Radiant will now proceed to DOE’s readiness review, the last step prior to starting up nuclear operations. This safety analysis also accounts for the company’s full-power operations […]

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert Township, Mich. on Thursday, checking in on the United States’ first restart effort. Wright was joined by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing Director Gregory Beard, Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Department of Agriculture’s Glen Smith and Holtec’s Kris Singh and […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has finalized the rule to create a more uniform regulatory pathway for commercializing Department of Energy and Pentagon-approved reactor designs.  Originally proposed in April, the final rule is designed to allow NRC to leverage other agencies’ data and information regarding the reactor designs in its own regulatory review process. The rule […]

Finnish spent fuel management company Posiva Oy was granted an operating license on Oct. 22 for the encapsulation and its final disposal facility, Onkalo, for spent nuclear fuel in Olkiluoto, Finland, the company said. The decision was approved by the government following a favorable safety assessment issued by Finland’s nuclear regulator, the Radiation and Nuclear […]